Experimental indie outfit The Horrors will return to live performance after a two-year absence, in what could be called a homecoming show at East London’s Shacklewell Arms, the venue which gave the band its first break back in 2005.
The band have announced two upcoming shows, the first of which is slated for the Shacklewell Arms in Hackney on August 29. The five-piece last performed live in November 2022 in Paris, but an Instagram story posted by the band declared: “The Horrors are beginning again. The Horrors are never-ending.” And the band has explained that the East London venue was not simply chosen by accident to play host to the band’s long-awaited return.
“It’s 19 years since we played our first show as the Horrors, almost to the day. It was august 8th 2005 when we performed at the Spread Eagle in Old Street, at a night Tom and I put on called “Cramped”. We played for barely 15 minutes to about 30 of our friends,” singer Faris Badwan wrote on the band’s Instagram page.
“Now it’s 2024 and the Horrors are somehow still going. We return to the Shacklewell – the studio we built was next door and we had it all through Skying/Luminous so we’ve spent a lot of time there,” he continued.
The second show is set for the following day, August 30, at the Brighton Psych Festival. Tickets for both shows can be found here.
Emerging from Southend-on-Sea in 2005, The Horrors have carved a niche in the UK music scene with their eclectic blend of gothic rock, post-punk revival, and shoegaze. The band, consisting of Faris Badwan (vocals), Joshua Hayward (guitar), Tom Furse (keyboards), Rhys Webb (bass), and Joe Spurgeon (drums), quickly became known for their dark, brooding sound and striking visual style.
Their debut album, Strange House (2007), was a raw, garage rock explosion that caught the attention of critics and fans alike. Tracks like “Sheena Is a Parasite” and “Count in Fives” showcased their frenetic energy and penchant for macabre themes. The album’s success saw them gracing the cover of NME and performing at major festivals, solidifying their place in the indie rock pantheon.
However, it was their sophomore effort, Primary Colours (2009), that truly marked a turning point. Produced by Geoff Barrow, the album saw The Horrors embracing a more expansive, psychedelic sound. Singles like “Sea Within a Sea” and “Who Can Say” demonstrated an experimental streak and earned the band a Mercury Prize nomination. Subsequent releases Skying (2011) and Luminous (2014) further explored lush, atmospheric soundscapes, while V (2017) introduced a more polished, synth-driven approach.
The band have not yet announced any further plan to play live beyond a show in Manchester on August 31, and have not indicated that any new music is forthcoming to follow their 2021 release Against the Blade.
