Having recently released their epic new offering ‘if + when’, Manchester band Larkins embarked on a UK tour taking in cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle Nottingham, Glasgow and London. We were invited to attend the Bristol show to see if they really did live up to what their fans were saying about them.

Bristol’s Thekla is an amazing, intimate venue, a moored boat on the dock in Bristol. The modest setup is fantastic and with a small stage and the crowd moved to the far end, it is transformed into a lively venue that thrives on crowd interaction.

Lucy Deakin kicked off the evening’s entertainment and she soon got the crowd going with some catchy pop tunes and was supported by a really solid band, it was clear to see that she was having a great time and this really came across in her stage presence and her interaction with the band.

Larkins hit the stage at full pace with their huge 2020 single ‘Are we having fun yet?’, complete with a fantastic light show to really ramp up the atmosphere. With the crowd right behind the band, the pace didn’t let up as they rattled through their back catalogue, including their latest single ‘if + when’ which builds with atmospheric piano and keyboards and carries a deeper message echoing the challenges we have all been facing over the last 18 months owing to the pesky pandemic.

The set had a rawer, spikier edge than the recorded versions of their music and the crowd lapped this up, reaching a sweaty, bouncing crescendo with ‘TV Dream’ closing the set. The image has evolved, a bit more alternative, a little edgier and Larkins delivered a fantastic hour or so of rock/pop bangers.

2021 is really proving to be the start of something big for this Manchester quartet after the covid hiatus of 2020 and other than another lockdown (boooo) I can’t see anything standing in their way.

Larkins’ debut album JCOY is set to land on 8th October and can be pre-ordered HERE

Review and Photographs by GMGigPhotography