Live review
Big Special put on explosive performance for SON Estrella Galicia’s debut show at London’s Oslo
5th May 2025
The Black Country duo played alongside Good Health Good Wealth for the Bank Holiday bonanza.
For the better part of two years now, Estrella Galicia has been hosting some of the best, most buzzy shows in Hackney, thanks to their SON Estrella Galicia takeovers of a series of East London venues. Having previously played host to new music stars such as DEADLETTER, The New Eves, Coach Party and Cosmorat across Paper Dress Vintage and Two Palms, their first event of 2025 makes a stop at another Hackney musical institution, this time taking place in Oslo for an extra special, intimate show with Black Country legends - and DIY Class of 2024 alumni - Big Special. What’s more, it doubles as a warm up show for their upcoming appearance at this year’s Dot To Dot festival, where Estrella Galicia are also sponsors for the first time.
First up this evening comes the eclectic sounds of London duo Good Health Good Wealth, who meld together social commentary and wit with an entirely danceable brand of alt-punk. Made up of vocalist and songwriter Bruce Breakey and guitarist and producer Simon Kuzmickas, their offerings manage to pair the cheeky bite of Sleaford Mods (albeit, from a very different geographical perspective) with the electronic zeal of LCD Soundsystem, to make for a rowdy but wildly entertaining introduction to tonight’s headliners.
To think that just eighteen months ago, Big Special were playing in a tiny greasy spoon down the road, in aid of introducing their single ‘Desperate Breakfast’ (the duo played a ferocious single launch at Billy’s Cafe in Bethnal Green back in September 2023) feels rather hard to fathom when met with the adoration in the room tonight for this Bank Holiday underplay set, just months on from a huge, sold out show at London’s Kentish Town Forum. It’s testament to their relentless dedication and astute songwriting - as illustrated on their brilliant debut ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’ - though, that they’ve managed to connect with so many listeners in such a short space of time.
Watching them tonight, it’s little wonder that they’ve converted so many to their cause so far; the likes of ‘This Here Ain’t Water’ and the aforementioned ‘Desperate Breakfast’ are gut-punches of emotion and adrenaline, with the pendulum swing of Joe Hicklin’s almighty roar to his engrossing singing voice still cutting through to your very core. As ever, there’s a gleaming glint in their eyes - with drummer Callum Moloney always ready to crack a joke mid-set - reminding their audience that, for all their music can boast intensely serious messages, there’s always a moment of lightness to balance things out. By the time they rearrange themselves in the midst of the sold out crowd for a rowdy conclusion, it’s clear that tonight is likely the last time they’ll grace a venue as intimate as this, making it a very special occasion indeed.
The next SON Estrella Galicia show will be headlined by Man/Woman/Chainsaw and will take place at the Sebright Arms on 26th June. Join the waitlist for tickets via DICE now.
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