Travelling to another country for a gig is a thrill. The cultural experience alone is exhilarating, and if it is one of your favourite bands then it simply multiples the enjoyment factor tenfold.
Manchester’s Maruja are on their way, of that there is no doubt. This 200 capacity room in Brussels had a wait-list with 130 hoping to get a ticket. With a debut appearance at Glastonbury and playing in front of huge crowds at Green Man plus numerous other festival appearances, a headline tour earlier in the year and the release of their second EP Connla’s Well, it has been a hectic yet productive year. The four-piece are currently in the middle of a huge UK and EU tour which began at Rotown in Rotterdam on 18 September and finishes in Bratislava on 22 December. 2025 is already promising a step up with their first dates in the States announced, including a sold out show in New York in March.
But back to Brussels. The venue is Botanique, part of the Glass House at the Botanic Gardens. The Witloof Bar is in the round, a breathtaking brick basement room which felt even more intimate due to the crowd standing around all four sides. The support band were local experimental trio ECHAFAUDAGES olé. They share that their songs are born out of frustration and anger about prevailing issues including climate change, economical crisis, and unchecked mental health issues. Their instrumentation includes a double bass plugged in and adding such depth to their sound, which ebbed and flowed between loud and quiet, and shape shifted taking unpredictable paths along the way.
Photo Credits: Julia Mason
Arriving at the venue there were many Maruja tees being worn by the capacity crowd. Having played in the Low Countries before they have already garnered fans wanting to grasp this opportunity to see them live. The set opened with ‘The Invisible Man‘, its echoey tones a perfect start. Singer and guitarist Harry Wilkinson, drummer Jacob Hayes, bassist Matt Buonaccorsi and saxophonist Joe Carroll create their music through improvisation, and have now incorporated this within their headline shows. There are few bands who mid-set improvise, and even fewer who hold the audiences attention throughout. The four parts of this band play as one.
Photo Credits: Julia Mason
The pow pow pow of the saxophone at the start of ‘Zeitgeist’ is the signal for an immense track, pounding drums and a heavy bassline layered with the increasingly impassioned vocals of Harry Wilkinson as it continues. Feral and chaotic in places it’s a live favourite. ‘Zeitgeist’ , ‘The Invisible Man‘ and ‘One Hand Behind the Devil’ are taken from the current EP and to see these tracks live in such a small room was exhilarating. Along with current single ‘Break the Tension’ tonight’s crowd were also treated to new music, the response being rapturous.
‘Kakistocracy‘ and ‘Thunder‘ from Maruja’s 2023 EP Knocknarea were also included and saxophonist Joe Carroll could see pockets of people eager to mosh and marshalled them all to one side giving them space to let loose! For a band that reaches the very heights of ferocious energy at points during their sets, the final track is the breathtaking ‘Resisting Resistance‘. A gorgeous gut-wrenching instrumental which bewitches the crowd. This is a band on the rise. You have been warned. See them while you can in these small spaces as there is only one trajectory from here.
For more information on Maruja please check out their facebook and instagram.
For full tour schedule please check the website.
