BRITs Week 25, delivered by DHL for War Child delivers unique shows by some of the most exciting names in music in intimate venues across the UK. London’s Village Underground saw punk rawness and catharsis in a memorable show from Kent duo SOFT PLAY.
Soft Play @ Village Underground - BRITs Week 25, delivered by DHL for War Child
Punk has always been associated with anti-establishment and anti-authoritarian as well as being strongly against conflict and equality for all. Before the main act, a representative from War Child reiterated to the sold out East London crowd the importance of the work the charity, especially at such an important moment across multiple conflicts around the world. The generosity of the public to contribute to such worthwile causes year after year really hits home when you see and hear the work that incredible charities like this do.
Starting the evening was shortstraw. All one word, all lowercase, with a full stop at the end – which was specified on more than one occasion due to similarities with a South African artist and some fans have turned up and it’s “got a bit hairy”. shortstraw. is Erinn, a female punk/rap artist from Coventry who was intent with firing up the growing crowd.
Opening with their most streamed song, 2023’s Sods Law which set the tone for a blistering 30 minute set. Just do it, 20p and stirring covers of JME’s, Man Don’t Care and Skepta/JME collaboration That’s Not Me, which really bought energy into the already stoked crowd.
“Hope is an incredible currency – when humans come together, we can make a real difference.” A beautiful sentiment in contrast to the heaviness of the music. Ending with good for nothing, a song about growing up in Coventry shortstraw.’s relatable lyrics is akin to The Streets with the punk energy of Amyl and The Sniffers.
The BRITs Week For War Child series of shows started in 2009. It has been a highlight in the UK music calendar year after year, raising over £7.4 million ensuring a safe future for every child living through war. Having already had Joy Crookes, Rachel Chinouriri, Tom Walker and Kasabian amongst others at smaller venues across the country, SOFT PLAY took to the stage at 9pm to the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful. A sarcastic play on the way the news cycle appears to have been in recent times and also very much the calm before the storm at the Shoreditch venue.
Opening with the first track from their 2024 album Heavy Jelly, All Things jumped straight to their vociferous sound. Isaac Holman on drums is quick to relieve himself of his shirt before tearing into Mirror Muscles, a song showing the band’s range of combining humour and commenting on an important social topic, this time, of toxic masculinity. Guitarist Laurie Vincent is soon to follow in going shirtless for their trademark look.
‘In our first year, we used to drive up and get parking tickets whilst playing at the Old Blue Last, maybe seven or eight different times’ Laurie says of the venue just a stones throw from where we are tonight after the catchy Act Violently. “When we started people used to ask stupid questions like.’Where’s your Hi-Hat?’ We’ve got a response to those ignorant people. Fuck the Hi-Hat!” which launched into their 2016 song of the same name, Holman’ pounding away on his kit with such velocity.
Heavy Jelly was in part a comeback album. Releasing 3 albums in 3 years; their 2015 breakthrough album Are You Satisfied? certified Gold and nominated for the Mercury Prize. Headlining 2000trees festival and getting major support slots, the band formerly known as Slaves were on a role. In late 2019, after the band released an The Velvet Ditch EP, drummer Isaac Holman had a mental health breakdown and tour dates had to be cancelled. In June 2020, guitarist Laurie Vincent lost his wife to cancer at just 32. After a hiatus, in 2022 the two of them decided to change their name to SOFT PLAY and in the summer of 2023, played their first live show in nearly 4 years in their hometown of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
“There’s a reason there’s only two of us on stage tonight. When we and my mate started a band, no one else wanted to join” jokes Isaac. Matching their humour with heavy riffs, the band are well and truly back and thriving in a sweaty room in East London. Songs like the self-explanatory Bin Juice Disaster and the 15 second Girl Fight. They are not backward in coming forward, Punk’s Dead being sung in the perspective of their critics and online haters about their name change, with lines like ‘I don’t like this spineless shit, Not one bit, I thought you were it, Turns out you’re just another couple of overly emotional pricks’ and ‘Come and get a load of these PC babies.’
The overarching feeling is that it’s all so primitive. Two men, bare chested on stage singing with a passion that is palpable. Both members take it in turn jumping into the crowd, Isaac with Laurie crowd surfing whist continuing to play Everything And Nothing is a beautiful song of grief, sung fiercely by Isaac.
Finishing on the instantly recognisable riff of The Hunter, SOFT PLAY closed out a ferocious 80 minute set with songs from across their discography. A night that made you feel cleansed, from a band who have been reborn and are revitalised.
Live review of Soft Play @ Village Underground, London as part of BRITs Week 25, delivered by DHL for War Child by Chris Lambert on 4th March 2025.
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