Soft Play and ShortStraw. conjure up a meteoric momentum at Village Underground: BRITsWeek25 for War Child

Between an incredible performance from shortstraw. and the awaited stage entrance of Soft Play, Alyx Holcombe comes out to prepare everyone for the night ahead. But before bubbling up excitement for headliners of the night, she takes a moment to introduce us to the Head of War Child Records Rich Clarke, who sombres the room into an important reflection on what this night is all about. Clarke speaks on War Child’s work in 30 countries around the world, such as Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine, where they use money raised “from shows just like this” to get children affected by war safe, and to give them access to things like counselling to get through the trauma caused by these wars. We are reminded that the need for aid, from charities such as themselves, is greater now than ever due to the current political climate. He makes the very powerful statement that “hope is an incredible currency” and that by even having a conversation, it can make a difference. Clarke, after leaving a vitally inspiring mark on the room, encourages anyone who can afford to do so, to text HOPE to the number 70225 in order to donate £5- grounding us all with the charmingly convincing point that it costs “less than the cost of a pint in Village Underground”. But also signing their petition on the War Child’s website can also make a significant impact, if anyone was unable to donate. Although it is incredibly exciting to be one of the few who get to experience such talented acts in these one-off intimate performances, having this reminder handed to us about the bigger picture for such events, was a humbling moment for the room; with the impact established fully by the gradual flicker of phone screens rising during this speech to donate to the cause. In fact, if you are able to, I would like to encourage anyone able to please take this moment to donate yourself, or sign this petition, before continuing to read the rest of this review.

shortstraw.

In the introduction style of Alyx Holcombe: when we say SHORT you say STRAW, SHORT! STRAW! SHORTSTRAW. (don’t forget the full stop at the end)!

What a way to start the evening, a punchy duo to warm up the room for our other beloved duo of the night. Coventry DIY act shortstraw. brought the raw political punk energy that any Soft Play fan would be pleased to hear, while hitting them with a grime twist that carried a weight of revolution throughout the room. Rolling in with the track ‘Sod’s Law’, Lead singer Erin West rapped a cascade of infectiously relatable lyrics, accompanied by drummer, Leo White, who served up a punching set of beats that amplified the message. Watching the sea of phones rise quickly in approval as West swept the stage with an immense passion in her eyes, proved that the duo’s charming and commanding presence completely owned the room after just one song. They continued to curve the audience’s expectations further by moving into a cover of grime track ‘That’s Not Me’ by Skepta and Jme, which felt as if they were performing an original.  Although some audience members may have seen shortstraw. live before (following their supporting slot at Soft Play’s Underworld headliner in 2024), for many this would have been their first time. However, after the energy that was brought to them last night, it is likely not to be their last. For any of you this applies to, you will be able to see shortstraw. play again at their headline show in Nottingham on Saturday 19th April 2025- tickets here.

Soft Play

Now, with the actual introduction used by Alyx Holcombe that night: when we say SOFT you say PLAY, SOFT! PLAY! SOFTPLAY!

The much anticipated intimate London headliner, following up from their sold out ‘Heavy Jelly’ UK tour just last year, had arrived. Soft Play is a band that refuses to shy away from the politics of punk, the vulnerability of existence, whilst still offering those key moments of comic relief we all need in life. So that is exactly what they brought to the table on Tuesday night at Village Underground. We were eased into the set with the sight of blinding white lights and sound of a deafening hymn that was abruptly interrupted by a booming “OOH!” from frontman Isaac Holman, as him and guitarist Laurie Vincent jumped in riff-heavy and steadfast to an adrenalised room for their first track ‘All Things’. All it took was a singular verse to get someone riding the waving peaks of the crowd below. Head banger after headbanger. Mosh after mosh. There was no let up in energy between every member of that room, throughout songs like, ‘Mirror Muscles’ and ‘Bin Juice Disaster’ which had a brief interlude to allow for the very urgent request that anyone with a vape “blow some clouds” into the air. Which, of course, the crowd obliged with heaps of laughter and clouds, as they swung into the cathartically rageful song ‘Act Violently’ that was led by the crowd without prompt. 

Soft Play also took a moment to reflect on their origins; shouting out Shoreditch and how thankful they were for how things have changed so much since they used to play there to 12 people, if they were lucky. This fed into the topic of their next track, as Holman entered the crowd and let the audience in on the reason for there being only two of them on stage. When they wanted to start the band “no one else wanted to join”, Holman shouted as the crowd erupted into laughter. He retorted that people would ask them the same questions “where’s your hi-hat?” “where’s your bassist?” and now their response to that is, as the crowd prepared to join in unison, “FUCK THE HI-HAT!” This led into what can only be described as a complete frenzy, with moshing, screaming and the band’s admirably brave photographer (shoutout Jude Harrison) riding on someone’s shoulders to capture what was unfolding beneath. The rest of the set was continued with many similarly hilarious, energy pumped moments, stunning quotes such as “save the fucking worms I say. I love the worms”, John Wick references and an important acknowledgment of the honour to be supporting War Child’s cause. But the final moment that really stuck out, was the emotional turn into their mandolin woven song ‘Everything and Nothing’. Experiencing that hush of the room as Vincent began to strum the soft, soul-stinging melody of his mandolin, followed by Holman’s gut wrenchingly harsh vocals that pulled every fibre of vulnerability out of the lyrics and back into the room, was something to behold. The duo truly left a lasting imprint on everyone present and, after several more passion packed songs, cemented that fact with a simple and silent exit. 

Artists: shortstraw., Soft Play