Gig Review: The Bug Club

The Bug Club once again delivered a high-energy performance show.

A fantastic night of music at the Electric Ballroom back in February

Author - Josh D

Gig Review | Bug Club

How was the support act?

Opening for one of the sharpest bands on the circuit right now is no easy task, but Holiday Ghosts rises to the challenge with ease. From my vantage point in the thickening crowd at the Electric Ballroom, they seem almost disarmingly young for a group so self-assured. 

Their set is anchored by the impressively steady drumming and vocals of Kate Raskin, while Sam Stacpoole’s sumptuous guitar work, alongside his own vocal contributions, adds further depth. With snappy songs and infectious hooks, they displayed serious raw talent.

More music stories and gig reviews from London Super News

The main event

The last time I caught The Bug Club, in front of a smaller London crowd, they left me stunned. They still look like they’re having the time of their lives, and if anything, their connection with the audience has only grown. This time around, they’re met with a room full of fans eagerly shouting for their favourite tracks.

Despite their easy-going onstage manner, The Bug Club’s Sam Willmett and Tilly Harris, who have been playing together since their school days, are a tightly drilled unit. Willmett’s guitar work is dazzling: intricate, rhythmic, and seemingly effortless, his solos woven so smoothly into the set that they’re almost easy to miss. Watching closely, though, it’s clear that beneath his slightly hunched, unassuming presence is a guitarist of real calibre. 

The same can be said for Harris, whose relentless bass groove never wavers. Their shared vocals and playful chemistry—exchanged through knowing glances and grins—are the hallmarks of a duo who have spent years perfecting their craft.

More on the band itself 

The band were formed in 2016 by brothers Sam and Ross Willmett and Tilly Harris, the current lineup consists of Sam Willmett (guitar, vocals) and Tilly Harris (bass, vocals). 

They initially came onto the scene playing blues music but is celebrated for their contemporary indie rock sound and have been signed to the Sub Pop label.

The song above has become one of their most popular anthems in recent times. 

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