Coventry Pride 2025

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I'll start by saying that as I stood in the middle of FarGo yesterday, surrounded by a happy, exuberant throng spreading unconditional love, that my thoughts strayed a little way up the road to Nuneaton where the prevailing mood was of hatred at that moment. If only the vibe of Coventry Pride 2025 could impact on those individuals who chose to spend a sunny Saturday expressing such negativity.

In fact the environment actually impacted on this review. There were musical performances at both Just Dropped In Records and in The Box  and I'd planned to flit between the two & cover artists in both. Which I did, but the crowds took so long to get through despite the tiny distance I had to traverse that it wasn't that easy & with the Box sets being much shorter & set times slipping a little, I'm afraid this article is a bit lop-sided against my intentions (the Box was so busy that I didn't get to engage with the musicians playing there either). My apologies.

Both Shanghai Hostage & The Session who played there were in top form: both clearly responded to the event, the audience & the challenge of playing in that massive space. Both are pretty Big bands (and I don't mean necessarily that they are purely just loud) and raised the pitch of their performances to heights which spurred the audience on: and they certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the crowd did. I caught a new Shanghai Hostage song which was nice.

Across in Just Dropped In, the sets were longer and generally more stripped back & thankfully I got to speak to some of those involved.

Curated by Emmy Mckissock , it was a superb lineup. Emmy opened proceedings with a solo set on keyboards (we were the first to witness this latest live instrument which they've been developing to go with the guitars, bass & drums which you, like me have probably caught them playing live before) and the set was in line with their In Emerald Sea project: quieter than Brass Hip Flask or River of the Dog, reflective and with plenty of space. It's splendid to be able to play so many different instruments and equally to have multiple outlets to explore different facts of your interests in music: and they told me of yet another work in progress as well: watch this space.

The sound one heard when Taylor-Louise came on was a lot of people noting (and regretting) how long it had been since they'd heard her play. But the good news is she's back in just as great form as ever (I'd argue, as you'll see in a moment) if not even better. She has been writing new material in the period of performing quiet and shared both "History" and "She" (not about what you'd think it's about): I can't wait to see both released. They take off from her high peak of where we left her. I detected a particularly strong resonance in her lower singing register which I hadn't heard before & I asked her whether her work as a vocal coach had helped her develop her own voice in this way. Interestingly, her response wasn't quite a "yes": she feels that she always had that quality but coaching had led her into greater acceptance of it & consequently greater use.

I like gigs where I am exposed to artists I hadn't encountered before. Emmy had invited Freya Rose and a pared back version of her band & their set was that moment for me at Coventry Pride 2025. Unfortunately their performance clashed with that of The Session so I caught only the first few & final few of their songs but I look forward to seeing a full set with the full lineup. The audience certainly was very enthusiastic.

Banoffee are a band whose name is on so many people's lips currently & that this is my first mention of them in the magazine is frankly a failing of duty to readers until now. Sorry. Whatever you have heard about them is true: and more. They really are that good. Again stripped back to their original duo lineup of guitar, bass & two exquisite voices, they not only have incredible presence and talent in performance but write songs of great originality, wisdom & charm. Like the best musicians, they project simplicity but then you observe the complexity of instrumental parts, harmonies & structure & your jaw drops.

That the audience contained members of other bands who exemplify the top of the local talent zeitgeist such as The New Obsession, Monday Nights, Permanent Daylight & Trust Club is further evidence that they appeal to the connoisseur as well as the general audience. I hope that you'll be hearing much more of them via various "Hot Music Live" activities. Listen out too for their forthcoming "The Ripening". It'll stun you.

Hats off to all who were responsible for what was a most uplifting & encouraging afternoon: Coventry Pride, Holly Hewitt & her team at FarGo, the mighty team at Just Dropped In (please do vote for them in the Association of Independent Music awards) and the musicians & audiences who collaborated in creating the sort of atmosphere everyone ought to live within.