Friday February 21st – 7:30pm to 11pm
Sugarthief played their first gig in the Autumn of 2015. Some three years on, they have 100 odd gigs under their belts, including appearances on the Main Stage at YNOT festival, Isle of Wight, Truck, Kendall Calling and support slots with The Twang, The Night Cafe, Willie J Healy… Impressive stuff considering three of the band are still teenagers.
Picking up ‘Best Alternative / Indie Act 2018’ at the Inaugural Birmingham Music Awards was an unexpected but welcome surprise for these very down to earth youngsters, but it’s not only in the Midlands that Sugarthief are getting recognition.
With multiple plays on National radio by the likes of Steve Lamacq/Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music), and Gordon Smart (Radio X), support from iconic brands such as Fred Perry and Pretty Green, as well as national championing by This Feeling (Big in 2019) – it seems the continued growth of unsigned Sugarthief shows no sign of slowing down in 2019.
Gigs in Birmingham are generally sweaty, sold out affairs, with frenzied fans joyously singing along to catchy choruses and melodic hooks, often culminating in a mass stage invasion. Recent performances to packed houses in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham are proof Sugarthief have stamped out a ‘Made in Birmingham’ sound that can be exported and enjoyed anywhere.
The young five-piece document modern teenage experiences via jangly guitars, pop-ridden basslines and hook-laden lyrics, a hint of psych oozing from the keyboards. “All the songs are really about my view of a pretty screwed up world”, says front-man Jordi. “Some people call our sound Indie rock/pop – I’m not sure about that… we just make the music and let others worry about pigeon holes”
Support provided by Phil Madeley + George Pannell.