By Jack Walsh
Picture this: It’s 2014, and you and your friends are off to the Deaf Institute to watch one of the most talked-about bands in England right now, known simply as The Wytches. The band gained fame for their dark and stylish psych-surf-rock, leading to a successful launch of their debut album, Annabel Dream Reader, in August 2014. I was hooked, and so were my friends. The sky was the limit for The Wytches, and they were taking off.
Since then, the Peterborough band have gone on to release four more albums, with their most recent, Talking Machine, released on 10th October. So, on a cold and wet day, I ventured down to the Night & Day Cafe for my official reunion. It was going to be a special night.
“Last time I saw them was in YES back in 2023, and I absolutely loved them,” one fan stated as we were queuing up outside. The line at this point was long – everyone was eagerly ready for a night of fun and chaos. The doors opened, and everyone rushed in to begin their night.
The doors had only been open for ten minutes, but already the place was bustling with people. Laughter and beer flowed as they all prepared for the night’s opening act.
The lights went dim, and they took to the stage.
Full of swagger and oozing charm, Pomona sucked us all in with their catchy riffs and infectious melodies until an unfortunate guitar string snapped, halting their set. So, what happens now? “Tell us a joke!” one audience member shouts. “What do you call a man that can’t stand?” Lead singer Ben asked the crowd. “Kneel.” The room laughed.
Ben then thanked both The Wytches and the Night & Day Cafe for having them on and continued with, “I’ve wanted to play in here since I moved here.” To be fair, if I were in a band, I’d love nothing more than to play there with all its rich history. As the string got fixed, the set continued, and the crowd danced on. Best of all, Pomona was selling t-shirts for just £7!
As the second support act of the night, The Youth Play, took to the stage, the tempo rose. Lead singer Diego Bracho echoed, “We’re going to start going crazy now!” I could see what they meant by this. With pounding drums and a monstrous bass line to back it up, the stage lit up with a fire that didn’t die down until the end of their set.
Then the time came. The Wytches took their positions, and just like The Deaf Institute back in 2014, all hell broke loose. Kicking off their set with their new hit, Talking Machine, the crowd burst into a frenzy. This was the moment people had been waiting for.
When Wire Frame Mattress arrived, well, let’s just say if you were anywhere near that front half of that crowd, you were being pulled into the pit, no questions asked. Bodies were everywhere, smashing into each other like pinballs. If I hadn’t had my camera in my hand, I would have been right in the centre of it.
Need a breather? Coffin Nails came next for you to catch your breath before being thrown headfirst back into the belly of the beast with one of my personal favourites, Gravedweller. Thepitswere relentless and here to stay. Get ready for a bruising, just not the face, please. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been clocked with a right hand or by someone’s boot in a pit, accidentally, of course. At this point, my 2014 gig had already been topped. On to the next song!
By the time Wide At Midnight made its appearance, everyone around me was wiped out, but that didn’t stop us. We pushed through and raged on like there was no tomorrow. The hard-hitting clash of drums and unapologetic roar of guitars filled the air, all of us at their mercy. As the set drew to a close with the tracks C-side, Three Mile Ditch, and Meat Chuck, one thing was clear: these guys, after fourteen years, were showing no signs of slowing down, and I for sure can’t wait to see what they do next.
Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Jack Walsh/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Tabitha Zaidi 
Emma Turner