The Barratts Bring Indie Anthems to the King Billy Music Bar

On Friday 27 March, the King Billy Music Bar played host to an intimate yet raucous night of indie anthems courtesy of The Barratts. The gig was the second instalment of the Sketchead promotions initiative from Paul Brown of Stalkers Rehearsal Rooms and a familiar face on the Twinfest team. With the crowd primed for melodic hooks and anthemic chants, the night promised and delivered with plenty of energy and charm.

Opening the evening were local up-and-comers The Scenesters, who warmed up the room with punchy riffs and youthful enthusiasm. Their tight, confident set showcased why they’re quickly carving a name for themselves in the local scene, perfectly setting the stage for the headliners.

When The Barratts took the stage, it was clear this was a band with both vision and precision. Named after the maternity ward where all the members were born, not the infamous shoe factory on Barrack Road, the band’s identity is rooted in personal anecdotes and local history as much as it is in music. Frontman James Faulkner, a consummate wordsmith, delivered intricate lyrics with the kind of conviction that turns songs into stories. There’s a raw, melodic swagger to their sound that occasionally recalls the urgency and intimacy of The Libertines, but always filtered through their own distinctly anthemic indie lens. Backed by soaring guitar lines and propulsive rhythms, each track felt carefully crafted yet effortlessly anthemic.

The crowd responded instantly, singing along to choruses that felt both intimate and stadium-ready. The Barratts have a knack for building moments within their songs — rising and falling, tension and release — keeping the audience hooked from start to finish. By the end of their set, the King Billy was buzzing with the satisfaction they’d just seen a band fully in command of their craft.