A glass of red wine in hand, a dim light barely grazing the crowd, and a more than spellbinding melody orchestrated by Luvcat – that’s all it took to transport us for one unforgettable night at Botanique‘s Rotonde room on 24 April 2025!
Under the Belgian rain, Big Society brought back spring!
It’s a fact: some bands manage to slip quietly under the public radar, while others shine thanks to the admiration they get from the local scene. And that’s precisely the situation in which Big Society find themselves, a much-loved band across the Anglo-Saxon indie rock landscape!
To tell you the truth, I was genuinely excited to discover this band from across the Channel. While it might seem quite surprising that Big Society joined Luvcat on their European tour, I actually found that the two bands’ energies, though opposed, made a surprisingly perfect match.
Songs like ‘Feel’ and their latest release ‘Foolish’ gave me a taste of spring and musical freshness that I hadn’t felt for a long time! This refreshing breeze, perfectly delivered, comes undoubtedly from the bond between the three bandmates : Thomas Fripp, Harry Gumery and Will Jaquet who met at the Royal Nothern College of Music. And you can definitely feel that radiating friendship, whether it’s in their stage presence or in their interaction, the way they complement each other creates a kind of warm, infectious camaraderie that brings people together!
But be warned: although their light music floats and carries us along, some of the bold riffs acted like an unexpected ray of sunshine on a grey March afternoon. And that’s what I particularly appreciated. In these sudden moments, Big Society surprisingly reminded me of bands like Slothrust or even at times Mother Mother. A particularly memorable highlight of their set happened when they launched into their own version of ‘Ça plane pour moi’. This Belgian anthem was enough to send the crowd into a brief but euphoric chorus of “woo-hoo-hoo-hoo” for a second! As for me, I more than appreciated that nod followed by a “We just had to!” It was the perfect blend of humour and homage to Belgian culture. Even if they may still be a best-kept secret back home, that night Big Society planted a seed in Belgian hearts. And to be honest, I’m more than ready to see what they’ll release next
Luvcat that romantic-chic ensemble already ageing like a fine wine !
I’d been eagerly waiting for their arrival and here they were at last lighting up Brussels on their European tour ! For a band name that is slowly starting to be whispered like a promise of romantic jazz-rock within the European indie scene, Luvcat didn’t disappoint me at all. Even if the band is still relatively young, they are already more than promising. It’s fair to say that every note, every look, but also every perfectly orchestrated silence transported the audience into a kind of spellbinding cocoon. And what better place to welcome Luvcat than the Botanique‘s Rotonde room? Complimented by frontwoman Sophie Morgan Howarth with a heartfelt “What a beautiful venue”, the intimate room atmosphere paid perfect tribute to the band’s enchanting songs.
In this warm bordeau cocoon, the almost timeless echoes of the stories performed by Luvcat more than enchanted the Belgian crowd that night. How could I describe this concert if not with elements evoking a woody enveloping perfume of mystery? Although this description is rather cliché, it’s fairly representative of the atmosphere that Luvcat manages to create. Somewhere between timeless romance and a hint of nocturnal mischief, Luvcat’s music brings you to a bold fusion of modern jazz and reckless rock that even the greatest would envy.
Though the music played the leading role, the set design is worth a mention. With just a few more than well-chosen elements, the bold minimalism was simply perfect. Framed by a red neon lights bearing the band’s name, a Persian rug and some cozy cabaret lamps, Luvcat managed to create the perfect ambiance to bring their show to life. And the audience itself even played along by dressing for the occasion in some red lace, corsets and leopard prints embracing the mood wholeheartedly!
With just four tracks currently available on Spotify, their set was rich of promises about what’s to come next : hopefully, a full album in the near future ? In the meantime, the audience gave it their all, singing and twirling to the rhythm of ‘Matador’, to their haunting addictive ballad ‘Dinner @ Brasserie Zédel‘ and to their tormented song ‘He’s My Man’. During their concert, the band also delivered a deeply moving cover of Radiohead famous song ‘Let Down’ that truly struck me to the core !
Setlist : Lipstick – Alien – Matador – Alchemy – Love & Money – Spider – Ballad – Let Down – Bad Books – Blushing – He’s My Man – Dinner @ Brasserie Zédel
To sum up the evening, Big Society and Luvcat found the perfect balance. Both, in their own way, brought a breath of fresh air : one light and breezy and the other quite rich and refined. It’s definitely the kind of music you can lose yourself into with your eyes half-closed. As for me, I can’t recommend them all enough. And if this live report had made you want to see them, you’re in luck as Luvcat will be performing at the Pukkelpop festival on Sunday 17 August 2025 !