Things We Didn’t Know: May 2026

Keith Goldhanger wants to keep us all up to date with some of the new names and new music that has come his way recently in what he describes yet again as ‘Definitely not another desk clearing exercise’.

Fortunately, for those of us in East London the buildings we all want to visit during the week are merely a short bus or tube ride away and seem to have acceptable air conditioning. Better still, a lot of the shows taking place inside these small rooms are free. One can never mention this too many times but the quality of bands available to us all are as good (sometimes better) than the ones we’re also paying £15.00 for. Examples are available but we’ll swerve that bit for now.

Bucket played inside the dark basement of East London’s Sebright Arms recently (as well as Reading’s Are You Listening? Festival which unfortunately clashed with Adult DVD’s performance). Microphones were almost swallowed whole as the trio produced an incendiary performance that rates as one of the loudest some of us have heard this year. They’re from Dublin which may become obvious for those owning Therapy? And Gilla Band albums. Glorious, in your face, rowdy and brilliant to watch. Go and see them too next time.

Zookraught from Seattle have been to London a couple of times now and performed thrilling, rowdy and boisterous free shows.  Their recently released Pressure album is worth a listen and a visit to one of their shows is highly recommended by those fortunate enough to have seen this trio already

Bed from Japan have also been seen more than once this year and certainly need to be brought to the attention of as many people as possible. Their throbbing Industrial dance music is certainly fit for purpose on any of this countries large festival stages even though performing inside one of London’s smallest venues has been a bit of struggle for anyone who failed to fill up their water bottles before show time. The Elephant’s Head in Camden has brought back the thrill that Camden’s been missing for a few years. Even bigger acts have turned up recently causing, in some cases three deep at the window looking in through the glass. (Official outside glass huggers totalled 45 by the time Bed had finished according to someone who needed some fresh air half way through)

Marion Raw – A Mexican living in Spain came to visit recently and cause a room fill of people to suddenly witness their jaws hitting the floor. Marions songs that are spread around the internet in the usual places are worthy of anyone’s attention. Hopefully she’ll return to the UK sometime for closer scrutiny. Her performance was breathtaking. Like the first time we saw Anna Calvi or PJ Harvey, this was an incredible early evening performance and Whoever was responsible for her performing at The Shacklewell Arms deserves a big pat on the back. Hopefully a return is being arranged.

Screensaver From Australia arrived during the recent heatwave and reminded one or two of us of those warm summer nights inside the now non-existent Hammersmith Clarendon with their early 1980’s sounding synth driven post punk tunes.  Xmal Deutschland (who one learns are kicking around again) were the band that first came to mind once a few songs had been heard. Yet again, we live in the hope that the band do manage to include the UK again once they get back home and start to make decisions on where to go next.

Finally the strangely named Your Mate’s Ex (top pic) have been providing the tunes that some of us have been found dancing under gazebo’s to  during the recent heatwave. The duo have just released their debut EP, these tunes played alongside another duo’s music one of us has recently become obsessed with (Aki Oke) have already set the tone for the forthcoming summer. More 1980’s electro-pop that a lot of us have never shook out of our system. More may be written about these bands in weeks to come however in the meantime get yourselves familiar with these names and see you all down the front…. well, more like along the edge somewhere if it remains as hot as it has been when these names have been witnessed.

Words by Keith Goldhanger. More writing by Keith on Louder Than War can be found at his author’s archive. You can also find Keith on Facebook  Instagram and Bluesky