Skep Wax Records have announced that their London Weekender will take place July 17-20. The label will showcase 12 bands across four nights at The Islington Assembly Rooms and The Lexington in North London.
Playing their only UK show of 2025, Heavenly will headline at the Islington Assembly Hall on Saturday July 19. The band will launch a new 7” single at the show – their first release since 1995. The weekender will feature two of the most exciting new American pop bands – Jeanines and Lightheaded – both of whom will be releasing new albums in advance of the shows.
The line-up is as follows:
JULY
17 – Jeanines, Sassyhiya, Panic Pocket at The Lexington, London
18 – Swansea Sound, The Orchids, Would-be-goods at The Lexington, London
19 – Heavenly, Lightheaded, Crumbs at Islington Assembly Rooms, London
20 – The Gentle Spring, Special Friend, Marlody
Jeanines are an American pop band on Slumberland Records, with two albums under their belts, a third on the way, and blessed with an extraordinary skill at creating perfect pop gems. Sassyhiya combine queercore politics with an effortless and playful pop sensibility. Their debut album Take You Somewhere was released on Skep Wax in 2024, after which they recorded a live session for Riley and Coe. Panic Pocket are Sophie and Nat, who are the wittiest, sharpest indiepop lyricists, and writers of the biggest pop songs. Their debut album was released on Skep Wax in 2023.
Swansea Sound sees Amelia and Hue, one-time lead singers in The Pooh Sticks, reunite in this new, sardonic, melodic, darkly funny, very loud pop band. They have released two albums on Skep Wax, recorded radio sessions for the BBC and WFMU, and are now preparing material for a third long-player. The Orchids like Heavenly, are veterans of legendary indiepop label Sarah Records, and are based in Glasgow. Precociously talented songwriters and arrangers even in the 1990s, they are now one of the most sophisticated bands on the indiepop scene, and released an album on Skep Wax in 2023. This is a rare opportunity to see them in London. The Would-be-goods are another iconic indiepop band, originally released by Él Records, and now armed with a new set of Jessica Griffin’s perfect compositions, accompanied by lead guitar from Heavenly’s Peter Momtchiloff.
Heavenly released four albums in the 1990s. After successful reissues on Skep Wax, they played gigs for the first time in thirty years, with sell-out shows in London, New York, San Francisco, Paris and Madrid and other places. Lightheaded are a feted new pop band from New Jersey. Their first critically acclaimed releases were on Slumberland Records. A new album is on the way. Crumbs are purveyors of very high-octane new wave pop, with huge energy, the catchiest tunes, feminist passion and the chewiest basslines. Their album You’re Just Jealous was released on Skep Wax in 2023. They recorded a Riley and Coe session shortly after. This is a rare opportunity to see Crumbs in London, as they don’t come down from Leeds very often.
The Gentle Spring were formed in Paris by ex-Field Mice founder Michael Hiscock. Their first album Looking Back At The World was released by Skep Wax this year to considerable critical acclaim. Special Friend are one of the finest bands to emerge from the dynamic French independent scene, featuring chiming, resonant guitars and beautiful vocal harmonies. Their 2023 album Wait Until The Flames Come Rushing In was co-released by Skep Wax. Finally Marlody is an exquisitely talented songwriter and performer, with the ability to reduce audiences to tears with her intensely moving, highly personal pop songs. Her debut album was released on Skep Wax in 2023, with another due later this year.
