Following their On The Beach support slot in 2024, The Charlatans show at Brighton Dome sold out quickly and with a new album to support, an anticipatory crowd were well lubricated and ready for fun. Also, as tonight’s gig came the day after The Charlatans were announced as headliners for next year’s Rockaway Beach festival it could be seen as a litmus test for their first show of 2027.
With the stage still in darkness, a 1,2,3,4 drumstick count in was joined by electric piano, when suddenly the lights came on as Tim Burgess and his bandmates completed the ensemble sound of new song Kingdom Of Ours. It’s a slow pace to start the set but after Burgess remarks “How’re you doing Brighton, it’s good to be back” Mark Collins’ lead guitar and Tony Rogers’ keys came to the fore as Burgess looked out on the sold out crowd with arms outstretched.
Rogers switched to Hammond to provide that trademark swirl that inhabits many of their songs including Many A Day A Heartache, the third in a row from their latest album We Are Love and proof that they can still write quality songs. The Hammond stays as we are taken back to 1997 for North Country Boy, which brings to mind Primal Scream’s Movin On Up’s gospel influences as Burgess conducted the crowd.
There were big cheers as the front man danced to the groovy Hammond riff on the even earlier Weirdo, with Martin Blunt’s bass injecting a slice of infectious funkiness. A stomping 4/4 beat intro gets everyone in the standing area bouncing, and those in seats nodded or danced as Rogers’ organ dominated in just the right places. Burgess saluted the audience, clearly enjoying himself as much as the punters.
The set continued to cherry pick through their extensive back catalogue, from a rocking Oh! Vanity through the glorious housey piano that ran through a dancey Blackened Blue Eyes, to the gentler sound of Then from their debut album, all of which were accompanied by inventively eye-catching video graphics that provided the backdrop throughout the show. Burgess complimented the venue, impressed that ABBA had graced the same stage. It was hard not to fixate on him as he’s such a charismatic and warm front man.
Two songs from Tellin’ Stories began with a big cheer for Collins’ guitar intro on the title song, Burgess’s arms aloft, whipping up a crowd that clearly couldn’t love this band any more and who were rewarded with applause and a crowd photo from Burgess. One To Another kicked off with wah wah guitar and heavy piano chords creating a more psychedelic sound that fell somewhere between The Happy Mondays and The Rolling Stones.
Burgess donned an acoustic guitar to join the Countryish intro of Title Fight, as Saul Bass-style graphics played out on the back screen, the song veering into Prog Rock territory with a heavy bass-led instrumental break with Collins adding a scorching solo. Appetite’s otherworldly feel had Burgess dancing and drifting to the hypnotic sound, blowing kisses out as the song drew to a close. It was all guns blazing to kick off Deeper And Deeper before it settled into an infectious groove that was inescapable.
It was abundantly clear that everyone on stage was having a great night, whether they were in perfect sync when locking in together or taking a free flowing solo. A photo of the band in younger days looked down on them during Just When You’re Thinkin’ Things Over, with the fans singing/shouting along, arms aloft, to which Burgess bowed gracefully, thumping his chest with pride. Drummer Peter Salisbury’s crisp Shaft-style hi hat heralded the final number, their signature song The Only One I Know and it was a thrill to hear it live and sounding as fresh as when it was recorded.
The encore began with the reflective Now Everything but ended with a bang as the band united as a full-on groove machine that delivered a blissful Tremelo Song, a spaced out Judas and finally Sproston Green. This was the perfect song to end with as drums, bass and guitar took their time, slowly building until that omnipresent Hammond kicked in to quicken the pace while Burgess filmed the elated crowd.
Tonight’s two-hour performance showed this band remain vibrant and vital, still creating exciting new music and obviously enjoy putting on a fantastic show. Roll on Rockaway Beach 2027.
Making a sound that could only come from Scotland, The Cords, sisters Eva and Grace Tedeschi, hail from Inverkip, an hour west of Glasgow, and their gloriously catchy songs echo the golden age of The Vaselines (who they opened for as their first gig), BMX Bandits and Shop Assistants. With most songs clocking in at around two minutes, they echo Pete Shelley’s short sharp punk love songs that defined Buzzcocks sound. They released their debut album last year, but The Cords have been making music together since they were young children.
The hall is slowly filling up as The Cords take the stage and go straight into two minutes of the indie pop perfection that is Fabulist, one of only four songs played from their excellent debut album. New song I’m Gonna Love You bodes well for their follow up album but its catchy changes are blighted by the disrespctful chatter from a few ‘fans’ at the front.
The pace quickened with October’s infectious “not the same as it was“ chorus and Tonight’s punkier fuzzy guitar. Singer/guitarist Eva thanked The Charlatans for their support slot but drummer Grace is micless, instead letting her ‘on the money’ drumming do the talking. The Vaselines-flavoured Yes It’s True showcases Eva’s wide vocal range while Do Do Do features irresistible “do do doos” from Eva.
A quick thank you then another new song Liar is so melodic it sounds like someone is singing backing vocals but this must be due to their songwriting skills creating subliminal harmonies in our heads. Their songs are so fully rounded you forget there are only these two young sisters on stage. On The Problem Was You, Eva’s simple punky guitar with Grace speed drumming riding on the hi hat and snare, even made the talkers stop yammering and take note.
My Love’s slower tempo with slowly strummed chords had a simple Velvet Underground style and they ended with their eighth new song of the set, Restless And Sad. Eva sang and played solo, until Grace joined, drumming gently on a tambourine before she kicked in to get another jaunty gem rolling along with interesting changes and drum rolls and cymbal crashes and, of course, more irresistible do do doos.
They powered through twelve modern classics in thirty minutes then headed off to load up the gear before rushing back to see The Charlatans. This was DIY music at its finest, capturing youthful joie de vivre in perfectly formed songs.
The Charlatans and The Cords
Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Saturday 25th April 2026.
Charlatans photos by Andy Sturmey.
