Photo + Words: Kate Warby
The return of Barfly Camden brings a familiar name back into Camden’s live music landscape, following its time as Camden Assembly. For those familiar with the venue under its previous identity, the change offers a sense of familiarity alongside a renewed identity. Its intimate setting places audiences within close reach of the stage, creating the kind of environment where the distance between band and crowd can quickly disappear. With The Cheap Thrills drawing a sold-out room, that closeness would prove central to the night’s atmosphere.
Support act Danny Griffin wasted little time in getting the crowd moving, with dedicated fans at the front already making their presence known. Calling out familiar faces who had been front row throughout the tour, Griffin highlighted a level of loyalty that extended beyond the headliners. Whether these fans had originally arrived for The Cheap Thrills or had since developed a new appreciation for Griffin, their enthusiasm was unmistakable, chanting along to each song and setting a high standard for the night ahead. If the crowd could maintain that energy throughout the evening, The Cheap Thrills would have little trouble keeping the room on side.
As the headline performance approached, fans edged closer to the stage, eager to secure a better view before the band made their entrance. When The Cheap Thrills moved through the crowd, the audience instinctively gravitated towards them, each trying to catch a closer glimpse as the band made their way through the room. With the venue packed and anticipation building, it was an immediate display of enthusiasm that set the tone for the performance ahead.
Throughout the set, The Cheap Thrills appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, consistently working to keep the energy in the room high. Lewis Pike led on vocals and guitar, joined by Anton Eager on drums and percussion, Terry Eaves on guitar, keyboards and synths, and Callum Fitzpatrick, known as Fitzy, on bass. Their enthusiasm felt infectious, with the crowd responding in kind throughout.
The energy continued to build as the set progressed, with four or five die-hard fans at the front setting the precedent for the night’s climax. Their unwavering enthusiasm helped sustain the atmosphere, giving the closing stretch a sense of anticipation that had been building throughout the performance. By the third song, the room was already heating up, with sweat beginning to drip from the walls as the crowd pressed closer to the stage. The packed room showed little sign of easing, and the singer’s casual reference to grabbing a beer afterwards before taking a four-in-the-morning bath felt less like an outrageous suggestion and more like a plausible extension of the evening.
The band’s 16-song set moved through a mix of tracks, including ‘Run’, ‘Heart Attack’, ‘Paranoia’ and ‘Saint or Sinner’. With the audience continuing to respond to their efforts, The Cheap Thrills maintained the momentum as the performance progressed towards its closing stretch.
‘Calypso Blue’, the final track on their debut album, brought a different kind of significance to the room. The band have spoken openly about its themes of love and loss, with fans up and down the country joining in on backing vocals and helping bring the song to life at their shows. London was no exception, with the Barfly crowd matching that same spirit. Despite the venue being considerably smaller than the sold-out rooms of around 2,000 the band have played further north, the audience gave those larger shows a run for their money.
The energy continued through the closing run of ‘Walton Vale’, ‘Hairs’, ‘Party’ and ‘Codependence’, with the dedicated fans at the front helping sustain the atmosphere until the end. The response throughout the night demonstrated that the impact of a live performance is not measured by capacity alone, but by the connection between the band and the people in front of them.
Having already taken their sound to Glastonbury in 2025, The Cheap Thrills have shown they can translate their live energy to a festival setting. With their audience continuing to grow, a return to Worthy Farm in 2027 would be a natural next step. The atmosphere inside Barfly Camden suggested a band with ambitions that could eventually take them to arenas, even if that remains a prospect for the future. For now, the focus remains on building that momentum, with their upcoming London show at Oslo on 19 February offering another opportunity to develop their following. If the dedication of the crowd at Barfly is anything to go by, The Cheap Thrills have an audience willing to follow them as they continue to grow.
