Chaos was unleashed at 2am on Friday night turning into Saturday morning at Mutations upstairs at the Hope & Ruin. What arrived on stage as an average looking band was proving itself to be a monster. The singer, Willem Smit, had pulled his top and trousers off, and was lording over the stage in his pants and socks, swinging his trousers liberally around his head. He did it so wildly that this SOURCE writer had to catch his phone and wallet and try to save them from destruction by the stomping feet of the audience.

It is not for no reason that earlier in the festival fellow Dutch indie pop darlings, Pip Blom, had told the audience in Chalk to go catch their friends and support act tour mates.

By all accounts their set at this year’s Rockaway Beach Festival in Bognor was also one of the high points of that packed weekend – and their March 2nd show at the Hope & Ruin sold out in seconds flat as the Rockaway attendees got busy booking tickets with their phones on their weary way home.

Musically their debut album ‘Big Love Blanket’, released last year, is a pitch perfect mix of Talking Heads and Pavement that is both as satisfying as it is fun.

Rave reviews are following them, as sure as the festival bookings which see the band heading for End Of The Road and Eurosonic amongst others.

The band is playing another nearby gig, three days before bonfire night, which suggests it will be the perfect warm-up for the craziness that has made Lewes world famous.

Love Thy Neighbour presents Personal Trainer
Lewes Con Club, Thursday 2nd November 2023
Tickets available here