*All events are 21+ valid ID required for entry*
8 PM – Doors
9 PM – Show
HEAVENLY
Heavenly formed in 1989 out of the ashes of short-lived punk pop combo Talulah Gosh. Original members Amelia Fletcher, Peter Momtchiloff, Rob Pursey and Mathew Fletcher were joined later by Cathy Rogers, and the full Heavenly sound – a combination of an energetic punkish rhythm section, sweet, wandering lead guitar lines and full-on girl group harmonies – was consolidated. The band recorded for cult label Sarah Records in the UK and, by the time of their second album, for K Records in the US. Members of the indiepop scene in the UK and the burgeoning Riot Grrrl scene in the US, Heavenly created a unique blend of infectious melody and sharp-edged lyrics. The band’s career was cut tragically short when drummer Mathew took his own life in 1996. In 2023 the band started the process of re-releasing their four LPs and have played a handful of live shows, with drummer Ian Button completing the line-up. Concerts in London, Paris and New York have sold out quickly, with original Heavenly fans clamouring to see a band that they still love. Along the way, Heavenly’s music has also found a new, much younger audience, with millions of streams and Tiktok ‘likes’. Heavenly are very much back on the scene, and are currently working on new material.
LIGHTHEADED
Carrying on the long tradition of sentimental jangle pop songwriters, Lightheaded distill decades of lovelorn tunes into sounds for modern softies. They have the sunshine sparkle of Margo Guryan, the C86 charm of Dolly Mixture, and the cinematic swell of Belle & Sebastian.
Formed on the Jersey Shore by Cynthia Rittenbach and Stephen Stec, Lightheaded took time to hone their sound with a rotating crew of drummers, guitarists and backup vocalists. They found a community of like-minded bands in a vast but tight-knit international indie pop scene, which eventually led them to the iconic California label Slumberland Records. Their debut EP, “Good Good Great!” landed in 2023 followed by the full-length “Combustible Gems” in 2024.
Their latest EP — “Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming!” — is their most collaborative and earnest release to date, and marks their first collaborative release with Slumberland and the UK’s Skep Wax label. Recorded bi-coastally with Gary Olson (The Ladybug Transistor) and Alicia Vanden Heuvel (The Aislers Set, Poundsign) and drenched in lush reverb on tape by Fred Thomas (Saturday Looks Good to Me), the songs are rendered in a dreamy soft focus that perfectly suits their starry-eyed themes. Adding to all the fun are the cameos and contributions from the new generation of New York indie pop goodness, featuring members of Starcleaner Reunion and Trinket, pushing the songs on this record towards an early high point in the young band’s discography.
SWANSEA SOUND