Dawnwalker at Hope and Anchor, London 2024

Maebe

This was my first Maebe encounter and they made a serious impression. These guys deliver instrumental music with a bite — think Explosions in the Sky before they mellowed out. Their set was a blend of the cinematic and the punchy, the kind of music that sweeps me off my feet whilst kicking me in the chest. It felt fresh, energetic, and brimming with enthusiasm, which is what I expect from the genre. If this is what Maebe are all about then yes, count me in.

Codex Serafini

I don’t know how one goes to a Codex Serafini gig and not love them. I swear they perform not music but some sort of human brain hacks: on moment you’re hypnotised in your own little world, the next you’re doing a full on trippy dance. Their music is pure controlled anarchy: fun, unpredictable, kind of impossible to not get sucked into. It’s like getting lost in a fever dream where everything is upside down yet somehow perfect. If you’re not already a fan, go see them live. They’ll make you question reality and love every second of it. Chaos Reigns.

Dawnwalker

Dawnwalker at Christmas? Having played The Black Heart almost exactly one year ago, it is starting to feel like an annual gift. This time around at the Hope & Anchor, they wrapped up prog and post metal, put a bow on it, and handed it to the audience. I think we were all there for it.

In just under an hour, they proved that music is as much about songs as it is about the joy of performing. If you’re new to Dawnwalker (where have you been?), their albums are a tad eclectic, so despite picking tracks from across their discography, the set had a really dynamic flow to it. The latest album, The Unknowing, leans into some poppier vibes, and yet it all worked beautifully when paired with the heavier songs. Perhaps this was the sonic equivalent of mulled wine: warm, a bit bold, sweet in places.

Highlight of the night was definitely the seamless blend of prog and post with the catchier melodies that had a few heads and beers sway. Extra points for making Hope and Anchor feel like a gathering of friends watching a jam session.

So if you haven’t given Dawnwalker a spin yet, here is your sign, and perhaps I’ll see you there next year!