English Garden
The Windmill, Brixton
13th February 2026
Brixton’s Windmill has unearthed some fine names down the years. English Garden are the latest band to blossom at a grassroots venue that keeps coming up roses. Steve Morgan digs in
“I’m already out of puff, and I’ve just seen what’s coming next,” says a breathless Will Hegarty as his English Garden cohorts launch headlong into their fourth offering of the night. As the mayhem of 3-2-1 climaxes three minutes later, those previously unfamiliar with the band’s work take a beat to recover their poise, senses already assaulted by the frenetic brass and bass-driven barrage. Carrying echoes of revered Bristol post-punk pioneers The Pop Group and Pigbag, there’s clearly something in the West Country water – four of this South-London based quintet hail originally from Bath. It’s par – or should that be Spa? – for the course.
Here to launch new single Famous Worldwide, it’s been eight months since Louder Than War’s first glimpse of the band. They’ve clearly put their time to good use. Sharp as a pin in their suits – lead guitarist Henry Goddard looks as if he’s strolled in from a 147 break at the Crucible in his natty waistcoat – EG’s rhythms jolt, jar and jag but, critically, never stray too far from hugely infectious pop smarts. This is a band you can dance your ass off to. And boy, people do. At one point, a hasty restack of the Windmill’s monitor speakers is required, thanks to the over-exuberance of the world’s smallest, but impressively committed mosh pit.
An expertly crafted 45-minute set, paced with the touch of veterans, is over in the blink of an eye. Opener New Era Of Fun, with Laurie Cobb’s parping stabs of Mariachi cornet, comes on like the crazed half-brother of the early, spiderish work of James, or at a push, early Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Over the top of the tightly controlled melee, Hegarty barks out an impassioned, reverb-soaked, nihilistic take on life that feels very 2026. “And, burn it down, all along, you will find what it’s worth,” he hollers as he shakes his castanets. Yes, that’s right. Castanets. Next up is Language Barrier, a tale of creeping paranoia worthy of vintage David Byrne – “this is not my house, so this cannot be my room” – which builds to a bewildering, deliciously woozy spinout. There’s no let up. Brand new number He’s Wearing A Wire marries a sly sub-Take Five groove to a Golden Brown-ish jazz swing, while How Many Times, replete with breathtakingly staccato punctuation, has tasting notes of vintage XTC delivered with a supremely intense crunch.
Famous Worldwide – the star of tonight’s show – is an instant earworm. George Armstrong’s powerhouse, propulsive beat and Herbie Bone’s pulsating bass are the perfect foil for Hegarty’s globetrotting list of capital cities from Berlin to Beijing, before the song fractures in two and maps are suddenly of next to no use. It’s a textbook example of the band’s acuity with shifting time signatures and soundscapes. Needless to say, it goes down a treat. “Now go and fucking stream it,” implores Hegarty.
Lo And Behold – a live favourite – is a disarmingly touching cowpoke waltz reflecting on dementia from the point of view of a care-home resident. “In this home, I have my new family, doctors, and nurses live here just like me… where are my pills, I don’t think I remember”.
Fabled for fostering a rich conveyor belt of hip acts – Geese played their first UK show here in 2021, other graduates include Black Midi, Black Country New Road and Shame – The Windmill has helped unearth another diamond from the rough. And English Garden feel polished enough to gleam. Hegarty’s constantly off-kilter stage presence, all comic gurning, theatrical tics and darting eyes, such instant eye candy when your reviewer first saw the band, are now matched by increasingly confident chops from his bandmates, who lurch about and grin like they’re having the time of their lives.
“That’s too much for 25 horses, that’s too much for 25 men,” repeats Hegarty relentlessly, as closing track The Long Farewell swells from its skeletal, slow Dear Prudence-ish opening to a full-on, despairing crescendo. Around it, the ghostly stabs of Cobb’s cornet swirl icily, a bony grip on your shoulder, as Hegarty shakes his fringe and flails away at his guitar. Too much for 25 horses, maybe, but it feels like a definitive 24-carat performance from a band ready to graduate to bigger stages with the right break.
“One more song”, cries the sell-out crowd before the maniacally fuzzy shuffle of 7/10 Split, another tried-and-tested number, brings the sweaty delirium to a close.
Easy as it can be to get carried away by the bonhomie of a Friday night and – to paraphrase the words of Famous Worldwide – wind up back home, hungover, it’s hard to dispute the notion that these guys are the real deal. If it is harder than ever for musicians to make ends meet, all hope is not lost: for this is a band that really could be your life. Dig for victory.
Famous Worldwide can be streamed here
English Garden can be found on Instagram
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Words by Steve Morgan. Steve is on BskySocial and Instagram. More writing by Steve on Louder Than War can be found at his author’s archive here
Photos by Robyn Skinner. Find more of Robyn’s work on her Instagram
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