Photo + Words: Emily Howarth

This was my second visit to the Eden Sessions this year, and once again I came away thinking it’s one of the best places to see live music, especially in Cornwall. The setting is obviously a huge part of the appeal, but this time I found myself appreciating the venue in a different way. The natural bowl shape of the site means that even if you’re standing further back, you still get a great view of the stage. As someone who’s only 5’2″, that’s not something I take for granted. In fact, I found I could see far better from further back than I ever could trying to peer over shoulders closer to the front. Sometimes avoiding the mosh pit really does pay off. 

Opening the evening were GANS, and they did exactly what you want from a support act. Despite still being a relatively young band, they were incredibly confident on stage and quickly got the crowd on side. Their energy never felt forced, and they had no trouble encouraging people to get involved from the very start. It’s easy to see why they’re beginning to attract attention, and they’re definitely a band I’d recommend keeping an eye on. 

Pixies! They’re one of those bands I’ve grown up listening to and, if I’m honest, never really thought I’d get the chance to see without travelling much further afield. They’ve been hugely influential, not just on so many artists that followed them, but on my own taste in music too. 

For that reason alone, this felt like a genuinely special show. Some bands stay on your bucket list for years because you assume the opportunity will never come. Being able to tick the Pixies off that list at the Eden Project was very special to me. 

The Pixies played for around an hour and a half, making full use of the time with a set that spanned almost four decades of music. Rather than simply ticking off the biggest hits, they drew from every corner of their catalogue. Songs such as Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Wave of Mutilation, Hey, Planet of Sound, Gouge Away and Caribou sat 

alongside deeper cuts including Cactus, Nimrod’s Son, Motorway to Roswell and Mr. Grieves. 

The set reflected the confidence of a band with nearly 40 years of music behind them, happy to celebrate the depth of their catalogue rather than relying solely on the songs everyone knows. That approach made the evening feel less like a greatest hits show and more like a celebration of everything that has made the Pixies such an influential band for so long, for so many. 

What stood out most was just how effortless everything seemed. There’s a confidence that only comes from years of playing together, and it showed throughout the evening. Every song was delivered with precision, but without feeling mechanical. It was simply a band who know exactly what they’re doing. The performance was tight, balanced and quietly impressive, with each member playing their part as though it were second nature. 

Seeing the Pixies perform in such a unique venue made it meaningful. Combined with another excellent evening at the Eden Sessions and a brilliant opening set from GANS, it was a night I’ll remember for a long time.