Big Long Sun 01.08.25 – I don’t normally start a gig with a drum in hand.
big long sun 01.08.25 – I don’t normally start a gig with a drum in hand. For one I can’t play an instrument, for two I’m medically exempt from hard work between 4pm and 11am. By Tom Freeman Contribution by Isla Mcrobbie 15 October 2025 This was no normal pub gig. We’d traipsed across London to see big long sun, but fresh out the Uber instrument cases coated across the street, cigarettes and glum faces meant something was off. Electrical complications during the main support left no option but for the bedroom-neo-psychedelia solo project of Jamie Broughton and his octensemble (or eight piece collective) to cancel their first London headline show. Displaced on a Friday evening in the middle of Camden Town, the devastation to the band was evident…but their determination to play was in no doubt commendable. Against time and the cabaret of penned events across the strip our hope was bleeding out. We kicked around whilst their promoter and our editor legged it across pubs, holding the phone on loudspeaker with hope of an update. While the band remained anchored by the equipment which could not be abandoned. How could we ever doubt that in the spirit of Camden Town, the show must go on. Cue the mad dash. 20 volunteers collected stands and pedals. My arms embraced in a kick drum while we belted 400 yards down the road to Lock Tavern. John (promoter) and I (bystander) made a mad dash back to the old pub to rally, cajole and convince gig-goers to trek down to the new stage. We even picked up a few extras who liked the craic of it. Three flights of stairs later, we pushed tables disrupting all peace set out by unsuspecting pint sippers, their space now pulsating with excited chatter of an evenings catharsis. Sound check? Doesn’t matter, Big Long Sun grabbed the mic, grabbed the tambourine and went for it. No stage, no problem. We had come to expect a lot from the Brighton band, each show on this tour seemingly a heel scraping stop before bolting off elsewhere in the UK to share their joy. Red hot from their second album whatever (whatever) on Miohmi records the band have seen modest, humble and underrated growth for the time being, reaching highlights such as support from Nathan Shepherd in session with BBC 6 Music. Core bedroom-rock performances included “a casual dance between friends” and “when the moods right”. The album’s feeling of free-spirited self-expression translated perfectly with the DIY nature of the situation. We had all found ourselves tightly knitted in. However a dearly noticeable gap was apparent with the absence of band member Ocean Groucher who classically handles the staple megaphone incursion their performances are becoming known for. Hand in hand this circle of talent is perplexing in its psych nostalgic trip carried by an intricate and youthful bunch. The team at TNAM.UK are proud to solidify ourselves within the “We were here first” department of big long sun’s fanbase. Great gig, great band and one really handsome fucker carrying a drum. You can catch big long sun back in London Wed, 29 Oct, 7:30 pm headlining the wonderful Sebright Arms. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FIND JOY. (@findjoy__) You Might Also Like Recent Posts
New Album Release: Chemtrails “Bang Bang” from “The Joy Of Sects”
New Album Release: Chemtrails “Bang Bang” from “The Joy Of Sects” A track with identity, vibrance and an all-over catchiness which makes it impossible to dislike. 19.01.24 Words by Clara Denise Brown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0j51h85Irs It has been a while since I have heard a track as refreshing as Chemtrails’s new release ‘Bang Bang’. This tangy single has all the elements of a great garage pop song, combining a solid hook, a sludgy guitar sound and an attitude which radiates throughout. This track has a quirkiness which I find indulgent, and Chemtrails have successfully pinpointed a sweet spot between garage rock and psychedelic pop. The rhythm section gives it a lively pulse, elevating the track by adding a certain funk and an all-around upbeat tempo. If I had to describe this single in one adjective it would be vibrant, as it feels like an aural explosion of colour. A New Wave influence is reminiscent, with a vocal style that channels the likes of the Altered Images vocalist Clare Grogan, specifically in the track ‘Dead Pop Stars.’ I have been holding out for a New Wave revival, so it is safe to say that this was heavily appreciated. The lyrics are fantastically written and catchy, you might find yourself listening on a loop due to the practically addictive vocals from Mia Lust. In 2023, Chemtrails also debuted three other electric singles from the LP ‘The Joy Of Sects’ which is released in its entirety on Friday the 19th of January 2024. ‘Business Class War Paint’, ‘Detritus Andronicus’ and ‘Join Our Death Cult’ will all feature alongside ‘Bang Bang.’ These tracks are cohesive, bold and demonstrate a strong identity, all attributes which are reflected in the accompanying artwork. ‘‘Bang Bang’ should be listened to loud or live, and luckily you can catch Chemtrails on their upcoming tour in London, Bristol, Manchester and more during February and March 2024. A band which is undoubtedly one to watch for 2024. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chemtrails (@chemtrails_band) You Might Also Like
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Rat-Tails ‘Coke in the 70s’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Rat-Tails ‘Coke in the 70s’ 13.09.23 Words by Jack Tyrrell Cocaine, Anyone? Evoking a near-epic sense of nostalgia with an instrumental seemingly DIY crafted (which sounds strikingly like an homage to the psychedelic music that defined the sound of Aphrodite’s Child and Jefferson Airplane in the 1960s and 1970s), emerges Rat-Tails a dream rock collective hailing from South London. Initially founded by singer-songwriter Courtney and guitarist Chris, the group of self-described ‘rodents’ expanded to include bassist Sam and the clarinettist Frankie D and have released second single ‘Coke in the 70s’. An experiment with a 70s psychedelic sound, Folk, and shoegaze the track is layered with droned-out guitar, slow heavy drums, and Courtney’s siren performance, justifying this band’s psychedelia style. This single follows Rat-Tail’s debut release ‘Spines,’ and much like its predecessor, Courtney, vocal folky telling tales of madness. ‘Coke in the 70s’ might have started as a love song but now it’s a more confusing hallucinatory tale talking about patterns, TV licences, Kanye West and of course, Cocaine. As I had hoped the song debuts with a music video seemingly straight from an old VHS you’d find in your grandparents’ home, scribbled with ‘top of the pops – 1974’, only it is ‘Rock Today’ hosted by RATTV, and directed by David Lynch…not quite as it’s remembered but beautifully crafted all the same. Catch Rat-Tail Live: 02/09/23: Paper Dress Vintage, ticket link: https://link.dice.fm/FJYNsWRErCb06/09/23: Cotoba U.K. Tour, London Date, The New Cross Inn, ticket link: https://newcrosslive.com/events/cotoba19/09/23, 6pm-8pm: The BabaAli Radio Show, Rats-Tails Special Guests (Via Boogaloo Radio) Radio link: https://boogalooradio.com14/10/23: Rats-Tails Single Launch Party, The George Tavern. For guest list, please contact ratstails2112@gmail.com ticket link: https://link.dice.fm/ITQQJOOErCb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xosRHapcQ0 You Might Also Like New Releases, Psychedelic, Psychedelic Rock, Rat-Tails, Shoegaze, South London
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Beach Riot ‘Tramlines’
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