The Maccabees return to Brighton for huge beach headline show

From student halls to the big stage

It's a far cry from the early days when The Maccabees were playing intimate gigs in sticky-floored Brighton pubs to a handful of friends. Now, the beloved British indie band is headlining a show on Brighton beach itself — a testament to just how far they've come.

Frontman Orlando Weeks arrived in Brighton in the mid-2000s to study illustration at the University of Brighton. What began as a solo venture quickly became a group effort when the rest of The Maccabees followed him down from London, seemingly needing little persuasion to make the move south.

"No one has to sell Brighton that hard, do they?" Orlando reflected. "It's pretty great."

Finding inspiration in a thriving scene

There was plenty to attract the band to the city beyond its beaches and charm. Brighton's music scene was bursting with energy and variety during the mid-2000s, offering countless opportunities for emerging artists.

"There was just so many bands, so many artists," Orlando recalls. "A lot of variation — some much heavier rock stuff, the Kooks were just coming up, and then there was us, Blood Red Shoes... loads of bands, lots of venues, lots of gigs you could just jump on."

This vibrant ecosystem became the perfect incubator for The Maccabees' sound, allowing them to develop their craft alongside other talented musicians and establish themselves within a thriving creative community.

Student memories and "boggonage"

Beyond the music scene, Orlando has fond memories of his time as a student in the city. He recalls evenings spent on a hill behind the student halls at Moulsecoomb, where he and fellow students would engage in an activity they called "boggonage."

"You'd collect pallets and old things on wheels during the week — anything you could find — and then build these makeshift toboggans and just go as fast as you could down the hill," he explained, laughing at the memory. "It was pure danger. But it was some of the most fun I think I've ever had."

These formative years in Brighton clearly left an indelible mark on the band, and their upcoming headline performance at On The Beach on July 25 represents something of a homecoming — a chance to return to the city that helped shape them as artists and as people.

For anyone who's followed The Maccabees' journey from their humble beginnings in Brighton's music venues to becoming one of British indie's most celebrated acts, this beach show promises to be a special occasion.

Source: Frontman from The Maccabees recalls Brighton hijinks ahead of huge beach show