Britpop Summer is not over yet. The sunnier months brought us mega reunion tours from Oasis and Pulp, but Echobelly‘s string of gigs this Autumn shows that the ’90s revival has no plans to slow down any time soon.
They may have never made it into the so-called ‘Big Four,’ but Sonya Madan and Glenn Johansson’s London-born band became a powerhouse in its own right, amping up the jangle-pop blueprint of the ’80s with rosy lyrics and beltable choruses. 2025 marks thirty years since the release of their groundbreaking record On, and to celebrate, they’ve taken it on tour, playing the album in full at venues littered around the UK, with a few surprises in store.
Echobelly exploded onto the stage exuding full Britpop vibe, with guitarist Glenn donning a Gallagher-esque bucket hat. The band immediately embarked on a high-energy run-through of the twelve banging tracks from On, interspersed with the odd cheeky quip thrown out by the ever-charismatic Sonya. Biggest hits ‘Great Things’ and ‘King of the Kerb,’ go down a treat, but no momentum is lost as they progress into lesser known-tracks, with ‘Pantyhose and Roses’ a clear fan favourite.
Sonya is every inch the frontwoman, throwing out choreographed shapes without ever sacrificing her vocals. Despite having thirty years of experience behind her, her passion for live performing doesn’t appear to have paled in the slightest; the wicked grin doesn’t leave her face once for the entire hour-and-a-half set.
The band tease us with a false ending after the final album track ‘Worms And Angels’ – but it’s only a brief moment, filled with a tirade of chanting and foot-stomping, before they re-emerge on stage. Sonya gestures to herself, proclaiming to the crowd:
Because the ’90s were so effing sexist, here’s a reminder that some women were doing it
They wrap things up with a track or two from debut album Everyone’s Got One, and a selection of B-sides and oddities.
Echobelly’s tourdates:
Follow Echobelly on website | facebook | instagram | youtube | x