Search page

Search Results for: benefits

Benefits - Esquires, Bedford

16 November 2025

Alongside Night Life by The Horrors, Benefits' album Constant Noise is one of my favourites of 2025. While the core of the band has always been Kingsley Hall and Robbie Major, it's the first time I'd see them as a duo - having always previously seen them with a live drummer. On this jaunt across the UK, the pair have been playing 'matinee' gigs where possible of a weekend, thankfully meaning it wasn't a late one on a Sunday. Joining Benefits was Dan Le Sac, with a set of breakbeat electronica. More photos of...

Benefits - The 100 Club, London

27 April 2023

Benefits' incredible debut album Nails is finally out and having seen them earlier this year, I couldn't resist popping down to London to see them headline The 100 Club. I wasn't photographing this one, but could resist taking and adding a couple of photos! Great support by Scrounge and Meryl Streek too. More photos of Benefits headlining the Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes are available on this site here. For more information about Benefits, visit...

IVW23 - Benefits - Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes

2 February 2023

Gig two of Independent Venue Week and one of the very best. I went into this one probably having read more about Benefits than I'd heard. Fantastic performance, intensely heavy music and great lyrics. Definitely a band to catch on their April tour. Joining Benefits were Big Special and Flash Peasants who both put in great support slots. Hopefully Big Special's music will be appearing online very soon! More photos of gigs at Craufurd Arms are available on this site here. For more information about Benefits,...

Big Special - O2 Institute, Birmingham

21 February 2026

Big Special returned to Birmingham for the closest thing to a hometown gig for the duo as part of their UK tour supporting their latest album National Average. I've been lucky enough to see Big Special a number of times over recent years after stumbling across them at the Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes supporting Benefits as part of Independent Venue Week in 2023. Seeing them go from strength to strength and picking up an ever growing fanbase along the way has been great. Joining the band were fellow West...

Ceremony #4 - Esquires, Bedford

1 June 2024

The team of promoters based out of Esquires brought Ceremony back to the Bedford venue for its fourth instalment on Saturday. The main stage was headlined by Hot Wax and second stage headlined by Benefits. Also playing during the day was Clt Drp, Cosmorat, Deary, Dog Race, Dutch Mustard, Enjoyable Listens, Holy Youth Movement, Human Interest, Mandrake Handshake, Scrounge, Shelf Lives, The Itch and Vanity Fairy. There's a little bit of everything from an excellent day in the gallery below. More photos of gigs at...

Big Special - XOYO, Birmingham

9 May 2024

Black Country duo Big Specials played their biggest gig of their career at Birmingham's XOYO on Thursday, the night before the release of their debut album Postindustrial Hometown Blues. Having first seen Big Special open for Benefits a couple of years ago, it's great to see how far they've come. I'm certain their debut is going to be one of my albums of the year. Joining Big Special Birmingham's Gans and Fergy LHmaking while Foka Wolf and Tat Vision took to the stage for some antics which included a game of 'duck or...