Keeping Grassroots Music Alive (and kazoos destroyed!)

Jamie enjoying a luxurious spa treatment before taking the stage for Andy's Surprise Nearly 60th party

We kicked off this month with something a little different – a surprise birthday party for our good friend Andy at Hilcote Country Club. Nothing says “happy birthday” quite like 45 minutes of foot-stomping folk-punk, ending with Ellie and Alan chasing Jordan round the room after he’d pinched Russ’s kazoo. (For those who haven’t witnessed it yet, keeping Russ away from a kazoo has become something of a Darwin’s Rejects tradition…)

With plenty of other musicians on hand to provide the soundtrack to a truly excellent party, it was a fantastic way to spend the day.

It’s been a fun reminder of why we love doing what we do – bringing people together for a night of music and mischief. And with that in mind, we’ve been thinking a lot about how live shows happen in the first place. Times are tough at the moment, and it’s completely understandable that gig tickets might not always be at the top of everyone’s list.

But for the venues, promoters and bands, those advance ticket sales really do make the difference in keeping grassroots music alive. Every ticket bought in advance helps give people the confidence to keep putting on the shows we all love.

Speaking of which, we’ve got a fantastic run of gigs lined up over the next couple of months – some free entry, some ticketed, all guaranteed to be lively - you can find more details and links on our Gig Listing Page:

• 6th September – Revolution 2025 – an all-day festival hosted by our friends Headsticks, with 10 acts on the bill in sunny Stoke-on-Trent

• 11th September – The Leylines Album Tour Support – at Sidney and Matilda’s in Sheffield

• 19th September – Darwin's Rejects - Hathern Club, Hathern (FREE ENTRY)

• 20th September – Pirate Night at The Crew, Nuneaton (FREE ENTRY)

• 4th October – The Leylines Album Tour Support – at The Old Cold Store, Nottingham

• 11th October – Nottingham Robin Hood Beer Festival 2025

• 24th October – Ragged Bear Festival, Nuneaton

You know you've made it when you get put on the wall of fame at Hathern Club!

So whether you’re in the mood for a full-blown festival, a free night out, or just curious to see if Russ can keep hold of a kazoo for more than ten seconds, we’d love to see you at a show soon.