With headline performances from Gurriers, Courting and Folly Group, and support by Amor Líquido, Morn and Yawners, some of Hackney’s most loved and intimate venues were taken over for a night of fantastic music; promising "concerts, showcases, DJ sets and beer", Soundhood lived up to its hype, turning London’s north-east into a lager-soaked party.
Kicking things off in the basement of the heaving Sebright Arms was Madrid-based group Yawners (fronted by scarlet-clad lead vocalist Elena Nieto). With thrashing guitars accompanied by some healthy head-banging, the three-piece alternative-rock band saw in the beginning of Soundhood with an explosive start; the Sebright Arms was definitely the place to be, packed with revellers enjoying pints in the sun, or dancing to the music down below.
Meanwhile, a brisk half hour walk away in Paper Dress Vintage’s gorgeous backyard garden, the ‘Beer and Beats’ experience was underway, where guests could enjoy sampling Son Estrella Galicia beers to the lively sound of musical bingo.
At the same time, in a small upstairs room with walls adorned by hanging football shirts, another Spanish band was taking to the stage - Amor Líquido, a four-piece post-punk group, who immediately brought a riotous energy to the otherwise unassuming stage. Smashing cymbals, diehard moshing Madridian fans (who the band fondly referenced to directly) and a Benidorm shirt all combined to create an atmosphere of pure Spanish pride.
The entire set was electrifying, but it was their Spanish cover of The White Stripes’ ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ that truly brought the house down.
Finally, just across the road was the final and largest venue, Oslo, hosting post-punk staples Gurriers, and Welsh support act Morn. The room was packed, and it was the familiar tune of Frankie Valli’s ‘You’re Just Too Good to be True’ that signalled it was time for the arrival of the Irish hard-hitters. (Unsurprisingly) fantastic, Gurriers have established themselves as aggressive, progressive, and fiercely vocal in their support for the freedom of Palestine, effortlessly turning any crowd gloriously feral, and it was no different here.
Jumping offstage in and out of the throngs of support (and even up onto the bar at one point), Gurriers make it clear that whatever they do, they do with dedication, and with unwavering support from their fans, many of whom were from Ireland themselves. It was the perfect end for the bands of the evening: cathartic, high-octane energy, and they received the loudest cheer of the night before departing into the shadows.
From then on it was DJ sets into the early hours of Sunday morning, and Son Estrella Galicia’s Soundhood 2025 had sadly come to a close. Over eight hours, the festival had brought a fusion of home-based and international musical talent to venues sprawling Hackney, turning the much-loved borough into a haven for both up-and-coming and established talent. From Spain, to Ireland, to the UK, bands from all over Europe united in creating a sensational evening, and, with beer experience packages and pizza available, it was a night that had something for everyone.
Here’s to next year.
Megan FitzGerald
Images: Izzy Reeve (@izzymayv)
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