The Foundry was buzzing the other Tuesday night with a strong crowd turning out for a double bill of cult favourites: The Bevis Frond and The Lemonheads.
For those who hadn’t yet caught Nick Saloman’s long-running London outfit live, anticipation was high — and the band more than delivered. Their set showcased the eclectic mix that has defined The Bevis Frond for decades: flashes of psych, touches of folk, and bursts of fuzzed-out indie rock, all threaded together by sharp guitar work and the band’s tight playing. Songs stretched out with confidence but never overstayed their welcome. A highlight came when Evan Dando joined them for Lights Are Changing, a crossover moment that underlined the mutual admiration between the two groups. It was a strong, compact introduction to their extensive catalogue — and left many in the room hungry for more.
By the time The Lemonheads took the stage, the Foundry was packed wall-to-wall. The band wasted no time launching into a run of classics, opening with The Great Big No and Into Your Arms to an immediate roar of recognition. Dando, shaggy-haired and still effortlessly charismatic, carried himself with that mix of magnetism and unpredictability that has long defined his stage presence.
His voice has inevitably grown rougher with time, but it suited the material, lending grit to the sweeter melodies and an edge to the melancholic numbers. There were moments where his focus wandered — both guitar playing and pacing occasionally veered — but somehow it only added to the charm, reinforcing the sense that this was very much a live experience rather than a polished reproduction.
A mid-set solo interlude saw Dando move through a string of covers, from Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide to the a cappella Frank Mills performed among the crowd. It was loose, intimate, and a reminder of his ability to completely hold a room’s attention with just his guitar and voice.
The full band rejoined for a powerhouse run through the hits: It’s a Shame About Ray, My Drug Buddy, Hospital, Bit Part, and Confetti all landed as big singalongs, and even when Dando stretched or re-shaped arrangements, the energy never dipped. Closing with If I Could Talk I’d Tell You, the Lemonheads left Sheffield with a reminder of why their blend of slacker charm and timeless songwriting still resonates.
Both bands offered something distinct yet complementary: The Bevis Frond’s expansive, kaleidoscopic guitar rock as a perfect prelude to The Lemonheads’ ragged, hook-laden anthems. It wasn’t always flawless, but it didn’t need to be — this was a night about connection, nostalgia, and the enduring pull of two bands who’ve been quietly, stubbornly, doing things their own way for decades.
