May 27: Carla J Easton at Paper Dress Vintage

Tickets from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

Support to be announced shortly.

Join us for the London launch of Carla J. Easton's new album!

I Think That I Might Love You, Carla’s fifth solo album – it is still a pop album at heart, but also her first ‘guitar’ record. Produced by ​​Howard Bilerman (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Wolf Parade, Leonard Cohen, The Weather Station) the album finds Carla gathering up friends old and new to craft a record that feels like a natural but also significant leap forward.

Carla J. Easton is an award nominated singer-songwriter, releasing 4 critically acclaimed solo albums. She is also a member of TeenCanteen and Poster Paints, and has written songs/music for Belle & Sebastian, BMX Bandits, Hen Hoose & National Theatre Scotland. Championed by BBC6 Music, she has performed at festivals across the UK and internationally (SXSW, Pop Montreal, The Great Escape, Celtic Connections, Indiefjord and Pop Cologne) touring the UK with Camera Obscura, The Vaselines and Kim Richey.

In 2018, she released the SAY Award Shortlisted 'Impossible Stuff’, produced by Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire/British Sea Power/Leonard Cohen) which featured singles that achieved Record of the Day, Guardian Track of the Week and BBC Scotland Single of the Week.

Her third album 'WEIRDO' was released in 2020 via Olive Grove Records - a record that Bandcamp Daily described as “all volume needles buried in the red, glitter bursting from every chorus.” The Line of Best Fit praised its “maximalist” tendencies while hinting that Scotland has found its own answer to the pop titans Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift and Pitchfork called it “bubblegum pop [with] the scrappy glamour of a homemade theatrical production”.

Her latest project Poster Paints was formed with Simon Liddell (Frightened Rabbit) during 2020. Their critically acclaimed self titled debut album was released by Ernest Jennings October 2022.

Her fourth studio album ‘SUGAR HONEY’ was released in 2023 via Olive Grove Records and featured the singles ‘One Week’, ‘Blooming 4U’ and the album title track ‘Sugar Honey’.

Carla is a member of the Hen Hoose Collective and Co-Director of the feature-length documentary ‘Since Yesterday: The Unsung Pioneers of Scottish Pop’.

May 13: Broken Chanter at Paper Dress Vintage

Fika Recordings presents Broken Chanter + Sassyhiya + Emma Kupa

Broken Chanter is the stage name of Glaswegian songwriter David MacGregor, on tour in support of his latest album This Could be Us, You, Or Anybody Else.

Support comes from Sassyhiya and Emma Kupa.

His album, Chorus Of Doubt, (agit-pop with heart - 8/10 - UNCUT) was released by Chemikal Underground in April 2024 and was on the Longlist of 20 for the 2024 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.

Prior to this incendiary new gem of an LP, MacGregor has released two critically acclaimed albums as Broken Chanter - 2019's eponymous introduction to his new guise (A stunning, stately debut - The Skinny) and 2021's Catastrophe Hits (Muscular, fast-moving indie-pop – The Scotsman)

He spent 2007-2017 as the principal songwriter of Scottish Alt-Pop darlings Kid Canaveral - a band that could get you to dance, laugh, and weep all in the space of the same set. Their Debut LP Shouting at Wildlife was described by The Herald as “a Scottish pop classic that should be mandatory in every record collection in the country", and saw the band perform across a large chunk of the western hemisphere, with the similarly well-received follow-up Now That You Are a Dancer being Longlisted for the SAY Award in 2014.

Tickets from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

£12 + bf (£7.50 no questions asked concessions).

March 31: The Leaf Library at The Ivy House

The Leaf Library launch their 4th studio album After The Rain, Strange Seeds at The Ivy House.
Support from Lila Tristram.

Tickets from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

The Leaf Library are a north London band playing melodic dream-like music built on layers of chiming guitars, pulsing electronics, noise and looping drones. They have released three studio albums (Daylight Versions, About Minerals and The World Is A Bell), a collaborative LP with Japanese artist Teruyuki Kurihara (Melody Tomb), a recent double LP of rarities and compilation tracks (Library Music: Volume One) and a four track EP for Castles In Space.

The band formed in the mid 2000s around singer Kate Gibson and ex-Saloon guitarist Matt Ashton and has settled into the core line up that includes drummer Lewis Young and bassist Gareth Jones.

On their studio albums the band have collaborated with musicians as diverse as Alasdair MacLean of The Clientele, singer Ed Dowie, noise group Far Rainbow and string collective Iskra Strings, and have provided music for a number of exhibitions, films and performances. Over the last few years they have released five Monument CDRs; an on-going series of experimental solo and side projects on their Objects Forever imprint (which also features releases by Michael Tanner, Melinda Bronstein and anrimeal, amongst others).

In their live shows the carefully constructed and occasionally delicate sound world of their albums is replaced by a sometimes noisier and more intense experience, helped by the addition of an ever-evolving collective of musicians including guitarist Mike Cranny (of fellow drone pop travellers Firestations) and keyboardist Irina Shtreis.

Associated Leaf Library bands include Beneather, Boa Resa and Molch (drummer Lewis Young), Mirrored Daughters (Lewis and guitarist Matt Ashton, plus Marlody and Mike Firestations), The Form Group (guitarist Matt), Sea Glass (guitarist Matt again, Melinda Bronstein and Mike Firestations again), The Nameless Book (guitarist SJ Nelson), Sun Drawing (Matt again), Wintergreen (bassist Gareth Jones), and Basic Design (Matt again).

January 21-24: The Winter Sprinter 2026

Announcing the 26th edition of the Winter Sprinter, from Wednesday 21st January to Saturday 24th.

Fika Recordings present The Winter Sprinter 2026. Four nights and twelve bands - the perfect antidote to the January blues in the intimate surroundings of The Lexington.

Wednesday 21st Jan: British Birds + Steven Adams + Jessica’s Brother
Thursday 22nd Jan: Comet Gain + Starter Car + The Moats
Friday 22nd Jan: Fightmilk + New Starts + Brutalligators
Sat 23rd: The Just Joans + Carla J Easton + Pelts

Tickets are on sale now!
Concessions are open to anyone unable to afford a full price ticket, no questions asked.

Tickets from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

Oct 28: Withered Hand + Firestations at The Victoria

Withered Hand is the pseudonym of Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Dan Willson. Since the release of his debut album ‘Good News’ in 2009, Dan has become a celebrated figure in the Scottish music scene and further afield. A well-travelled touring singer-songwriter, he has quietly amassed a devoted cult fanbase while staying true to a singular artistic vision.

A strident second album ‘New Gods’ in 2014 propelled Withered Hand into the charts, featuring appearances by friends, luminaries and supporters from the Scottish music scene, from Belle & Sebastian to Frightened Rabbit to The Vaselines and beyond. A long-awaited third Withered Hand album, ‘How To Love’, was released in 2023, again to widespread critical acclaim.

Dan’s subsequent collaboration with Mercury Prize nominated English singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams resulted in last year’s album “Willson Williams” - shortlisted for both Scottish Album of the Year and UK Americana Album of the Year 2024.

Dan is currently working on a 4th Withered Hand LP with his friend and mentor King Creosote, due for release in late 2025.

Dan has been guest tutor on Songwriting Workshops at Moniack Mhor - Scotland’s Centre of Creative Writing, Arvon Writing Foundation at Totleigh Barton and Arvon Lumb Bank and is an advocate of the power of music and creativity in recovery, healing and growth.

“Beautifully constructed lyrical frameworks … Caledonian gospel” - MOJO
“Killer melodies … wobbly folk grooves … tunes full of warm, woozy sing-song charm”- Artist to Watch - Rolling Stone USA
“One of the greatest Alt-folkies” - The Scotsman
“As life-affirming as music gets” - The Herald

Firestations

Firestations are Mike Cranny, Laura Copsey, Martin Thompson (aka Bit Cloudy), Tom Hargreaves and Neil Walsh. Their music spans genres from shoegaze to alt-pop and harmony-driven psychedelia. Their second album and their debut for Lost Map, The Year Dot, released in 2018, was followed by sonic collage album Dream Home in 2020 and the Automatic Tendencies EP project in 2020-21. The latter took the form of three EPs over a six-month period, each including alternative “sunken” versions by the band as well as covers and remixes of the band’s tracks by other artists. Thick Terrain, released in 2023, saw Firestations return to album format with ten tracks ranging from hypnotic sci-fi landscapes to addictive dream-pop jangles, exploring ideas around identity, conflict, progress and sanity.

Many White Horses is the brand-new album by eclectic London art-pop ensemble Firestations. Released on Lost Map Records on limited-edition 12” vinyl and via digital services on April 25, 2025, the album is a collection of sea-soaked acoustic songs and instrumentals, interwoven with field recordings and lyrics drawn from the immediate surroundings of a sailing expedition, all brought together with warm, textured production..

Tickets from WeGotTickets and from Dice. £15 adv, £8 adv for those on low- or no-incomes (no questions asked).

OCT 24: The Ballet + Evripidis and His Tragedies + Panic Pocket at The Betsey Trotwood

THE BALLET

The Ballet is the musical alter ego of the NYC-based musician and writer Greg Goldberg. The Ballet combines a wry poetic style with pop romanticism and a queer DIY spirit to create literary and infectious pop gems. In addition to citing Stephin Merritt as a formative influence, Goldberg draws inspiration from a variety of pop artists and periods; from 60s bubblegum to 80s synthpop and 90s indiepop, fusing these genres in sophisticated and original ways. Formed in 2005, Goldberg has been joined by several friends over the years: Craig Willse, Marina Miranda (La Pequeña Suiza), Ginger Brooks Takahashi (MEN), and Michael O’Neill (MEN). The Ballet self-released their first two albums: Mattachine! (2006) and Bear Life (2009). These records caught the attention of indie label legends Fortuna Pop!, who released their third album, I Blame Society (2013). After FortunaPop! closed shop, The Ballet partnered with Fika Recordings, who released their fourth and fifth albums: Matchy Matchy (2019) and Daddy Issues (2023). Goldberg is currently working on Ballet’s sixth album, arranged entirely on the Roland Jupiter Xm synthesizer, titled “Nothing Straight.”

EVRIPIDIS AND HIS TRAGEDIES

Evripidis and His Tragedies is the alter-ego of Evripidis Sabatis, a multi-disciplinary artist from Athens living in Barcelona. The "Tragedies" are the devastating, confessional, self-sarcastic and often darkly humorous pop songs that draw on his classical piano training, queer sensibility and storytelling skills, to examine and ultimately own up to the vicissitudes of life. Evripidis' pop inclinations take us for a bumpy, dancey ride across the fine line between tragedy and joie de vivre. 

In 2021, Evripidis released his fifth album Neos Kosmos, combining his love of Doo Wop, Girl Groups, New Wave, Indie Pop and Bedroom Pop with richly textured electronic soundscapes, followed by a handful of singles, with Just a Little Wiser being the latest. Evripidis is currently working on new music.

Evripidis and His Tragedies has performed at international festivals like Primavera Sound, FIB, Indietracks, Eurosonic Noordeslag, etc, and in a plethora of venues in Spain, Greece, UK, Germany, France, Portugal, USA and Mexico.

PANIC POCKET

Panic Pocket are recognised for their cathartic musical storytelling about shaking off bad relationships, the life-changing nature of female-friendship and the perils of online dating, "delivered with a wry sense of humour and an undeniable charm” – For the Rabbits.

Tickets from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

Oct 21: Darren Hayman at The Theatreship

Darren Hayman performs his 2012 album The Ship's Piano. On a ship. On a ship's piano.

With support from Lila Tristram.

Tickets from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

"In November 2009 I had this thing happen to me, where I ended up in hospital with a fractured skull. For a few months I felt constantly dizzy and was diagnosed with some deafness in one ear. Sharp loud noises bothered me greatly. I was told to rest and do nothing, but who knows how to do that?

Music always helps when I'm ill, so I started to make the simplest, quietest music to help me recuperate. I tried to make the music that I wanted to hear, which is perhaps what we should always doing, but in this case there was a direct therapeutic need.

I avoided any jagged edges. I kept imagining the sounds I wanted as round and smooth, like well-worn pebbles.

Lyrically I also found myself eschewing conceptual and metaphoric character led songs. I started to write the simplest and most direct words in the first person, something I have avoided for a few years.

If you are a songwriter and something bad happens to you, people say, "You can write a song about it at least." They mean well, but the big events in life have to seap out gradually with me and not in urgent, confessional bursts. The songs on this record are pleas for calm. As I get older I find I prefer small, quiet things.

All the songs were written on my ships's piano. 'Ship's Piano' is a colloquial term given to small-scale pianos that were used on boats. Mine was built in France in 1933 and folds away to resemble a sideboard. I wrote a song where I imagine its history. It's called 'The Ship's Piano'. "

Darren Hayman, 2012.

Oct 9: Allo Darlin' + The Wave Pictures at EartH Hall

Anglo-Australian indiepop heroes Allo Darlin’ are back with their first new music in a decade. We’re delighted to host them for the London leg of their UK tour - and there’ll be some very special guests joining them on stage.

Support comes from The Wave Pictures.

Face value tickets include a £1.50 venue restoration levy.

No questions asked concessions are available for anyone that can't afford a full price ticket, for whatever reason. No eligibility requirements - we trust you.

Tickets on general sale 10am April 9th.

Pre-sale exclusively via the Allo Darlin' mailing list from 10am April 7th - sign up here in advance to get the pre-sale link: allodarlin.com

Sep 13: Fortitude Valley at New River Studios

FORTITUDE VALLEY

Fortitude Valley is the brainchild of Laura Kovic. Taking influence from the likes of The Beths, The Go-Go’s and Pavement, what results is a ludicrously addictive cocktail of heart-stopping indie-punk power-pop melody and a back catalogue of songs that’ll be living in your head, rent free, for evermore.

adults

Combining elements of indie-pop, punk, emo and just a little bit of 2009 vintage math-rock for good measure, adults are four pals trying to find their way in a disintegrating world. Reflecting on how we look after ourselves, one another and people in our community; their songs are a riotous collision reminiscent of Johnny Foreigner, The Beths or Trust Fund, bursting with crunching guitars, speedy drums and yelping dual vocals. Faster, messier and sillier than they have any right to be, adults are a hopeful and joyous noisy pop band based in South London.

Lanny

Lanny is the solo project of Lan McArdle (Ex-Vöid, Joanna Gruesome). The project explores an idiosyncratic, deconstructed take on the hook-heavy guitar pop they’re known for. Lanny is a sound-world of its own, one that takes in everything from country to indie rock to trap to abstract ambient. Their debut album bliss!! bliss! bliss was released on Gob Nation in October 2024.

Tickets on sale from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

Jul 27: Darren Hayman presents Essex Arms at Green Note [SOLD OUT] - MATINEE ADDED

DARREN HAYMAN PRESENTS ESSEX ARMS
with support from The Martial Arts.

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Darren Hayman presents a 15 year anniversary show looking back at Essex Arms, his second in a trilogy of albums about his home county of Essex. While the opening album of the trilogy (Pram Town, 2006) dealt with the displacement and ennui of living in a new town (Harlow), and The Violence (2012) rolled back the years to visit the 17th century Essex Witch Trials, 2010s Essex Arms is a conceptual piece about the East Anglian rural underbelly.

Best known as the singer-songwriter of the phenomenally successful and much-loved Hefner, Darren Hayman is now 15 years, and over 14 albums, into an increasingly idiosyncratic career path, where he has taken a singular and erratic route through England’s tired and heartbroken underbelly. Darren is also writing the best tunes of his career; increasingly complex and mature songs, he is a thoughtful, concise and detailed songwriter.

Hayman’s first two solo albums, Table For One (2006) and The Secondary Modern (2007), charmed the critics – with The Guardian opining that Hayman’s profoundly English songwriting was “the match of Ray Davies”. Mostly joined by his band The Secondary Modern – a loose, urban folk collective, underpinning Hayman’s concrete sorrow with rural violins and tired pianos – he has released a series of albums, largely focused on place. This allowed for the exploration of nuanced subjects in detail, with a trio of albums based in Essex (2009’s Pram Town and 2010’s Essex Arms) and culminating in 2012’s The Violence, a 20 song account of the 17th century Essex witch trials. From this he developed an album of English Civil War folk songs of the time (2013’s Bugbears) and stayed with the historical theme for Chants For Socialists, which saw him set William Morris’ words to music, creating an album of kindness and hope that brought Hayman’s most critical acclaim yet. 

In 2016 Darren was awarded ‘Hardest Working Musician’ by the Association of Independent Music for his epic project on Thankful Villages, the 55 villages that survived the Great War with no casualties. 12 Astronauts tells the personal story of the only men to have walked on the Moon.

“bold and unique" The Sunday Times
 “Hayman has hit a creative purple patch… a treat” Mojo
 “uniquely intimate and very satisfying”  - BBC

The Martial Arts

The Martial Arts is Paul Kelly, who for over 15 years has been a mainstay of the Scottish music scene. He was a full-time member of BMX Bandits for five years and is a long-time collaborator and bandmate of the SAY Award-nominated artist Carla J Easton (TheVaselines / Poster Paints / TeenCanteen). He has performed with Raveloe, TeenCanteen, Kim Richey, The Primary 5, Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab, How to Swim and The HectorCollectors, at festivals including Kendal Calling, Paris PopFest, Electric Fields, Doune The Rabbit Hole and The Charlatans’ North By Northwich, with live sessions for the likes of MarcRiley (BBC 6Music) andVic Galloway (BBC Scotland). The Martial Arts have supported Darren Hayman (Hefner), Letitia Sadier (Stereolab), AndyRourke (The Smiths), The Boo Radleys, The Wave Pictures and Scout Niblet.

http://linktr.ee/themartialarts

Tickets from WeGotTickets and Ticketweb.

Evening show
Doors open 1900. Music starts at 2015 prompt.

Matinee show:
Doors open 1330. Music starts at 1430. Finished by 1630.