A year on from the release of their fifth album Buck, Red Rum Club have returned with new single “Any Minute Now” and the start of a new chapter. The Merseyside five-piece have spent the past few years carving out their own corner of the UK indie scene, earning two Top 10 albums with a sound that puts brass at the heart of their alternative rock. At a sold-out Rock City, they showed just how well that sound translates to the live stage.
Lincolnshire outfit Cherryholt opened the evening, quickly winning over the early arrivals with their infectious energy. There were already pockets of fans singing along to “Irresistible” two songs into their set, reflecting the following the five-piece have been building over the past year. With unreleased tracks making an appearance, lead singer Reuben Baskerville also revealed that an EP is on the way. They closed with “The Bullet”, by which point the crowd had grown considerably. Cherryholt proved they won’t be waiting long to headline venues of this size.
Liverpool quartet Keyside followed a set drawn from their recently released self-titled debut album. Their sound carried a distinctly Scouse character, with ‘Angeline’ and ‘Runaway’ providing a strong finish. Both tracks have been fan favourites since their original single releases, and the audience’s response suggested their place in the band’s catalogue is well deserved.
A giant horseshoe backdrop framed Red Rum Club’s arrival, with “American Nights & English Mornings” kicking off the set as the band gradually joined the stage. Taken from 2025’s Buck, the track leans into their rockier side. “Afternoon” soon brought touring member Eli Younger’s trumpet to the forefront, cutting through the guitars and highlighting that brass sound that has become central to the band’s identity.
Released just a week before the gig, “Any Minute Now” marked the band’s first fully independent single through their own label. Despite its short time out in the world, the crowd were already singing along. The new material sat comfortably alongside fan favourites like “Eleanor” and “Kids Addicted”, the latter prompting a crowd clap along at frontman Fran Doran’s request.
The set moved comfortably between styles. “Nightcalling” leaned into disco, while “Calexico” became reminiscent of a Western movie’s soundtrack. The trumpet remained central throughout, adding an extra dimension to “Jigsaw Shores” before taking the spotlight during the slower “Houdini”. Paired with the more measured “Call Me On Your Comedown”, the slower songs offered a welcome change of pace before “Crush, TX” restored the heavier edge.
There was plenty of older material, too. ‘‘Honey’, ‘Animal’ and ‘Vibrate’ kept the energy up, all firmly established fixtures in the band’s live set. After ‘Hole In My Home’, the band left the stage to chants of the song’s title, with the audience making it clear that an encore was essential.
Doran and guitarist Michael McDermott returned for an acoustic “Eighteen” before the full band joined. Doran then teased the song everyone had been waiting for, with “Would You Rather Be Lonely” sparking moshpits and jumping across the room. Closing with ‘Vanilla’, the band extended the outro to introduce its members, as the crowd joined in for one final chorus.
After a packed set spanning their catalog, Red Rum Club left Rock City having given Nottingham plenty to sing about. The response to “Any Minute Now” suggests their latest chapter is off to a promising start, with the band’s distinctive sound continuing to find its place among the UK’s indie scene. With a new single under their belt and a loyal crowd behind them, there is plenty to look forward to from Red Rum Club.
