Image Credit: Ian Cheek Press

Welly has been one of those bands that I’ve always tried to go and see. From their amazing crowd interactions to energetic music, you are always in for a good time. This concert was extra special as they were coming to my local venue, HotBox in Chelmsford for Independent Venue Week.

Independent Venue Week (IVW) is a national scheme created to celebrate grassroots music hubs and support those who create these vital community spaces. Throughout the UK and the US, hundreds of venues piece together amazing programmes to showcase brilliant live artists. IVW also helped many people to get their foot in the door within the music industry. They have hundreds of volunteer placements throughout IVW and with their early career’s pathways, they help to bring more people into local music

While Independent Venue Week has now passed for 2026, I recommend checking out whether your local venue is putting on any shows. Whether you live towards Belfast, Port Talbot, John O’Groats or Bexhill-On-Sea, live music will be coming your way!

Welly began their show with the gorgeous ‘Spring’ from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. For people who haven’t been to a Welly show before, it’s the calm before the storm as they immediately launch into the lively ‘It’s not like this in France’

This track is from their first ever album Big In The Surburbs released back in March 2025.

The key focuses of this record look towards the overlooked simple parts of suburban life, both celebrating and criticising British everyday culture from speaking about fish and chips, the quiz show, Pointless, and the Brexit referendum.

Tonight’s show was a chance for Welly to show off their unreleased tracks such as ‘Jockey’

‘Calvin Klein’ and ‘Skinny Boy’ which all shared the distinctive “Welly” sound that we all know and love with striding, catchy basslines and an assortment of brilliant percussion choices. I’m excited to hear them when they get released across streaming.

They ended the show with, obviously, ‘Me and Your Mates’; their first single released back in 2022. One of my personal favourites! There were some songs that I miss hearing on the set like ‘Deere John’ and ‘Home For The Weekend’ that all should go and check out.

Welly are one of those bands that perform with so much joy and energy, it’s infectious. I last saw them a year ago in Leeds and their performance has been at the forefront of my mind ever since, I’ve recommended them to all who would listen.

Frontman, Elliot Hall, uses time between songs to kickstart his stand-up career with such charismatic conversations, poking fun at the audience and his fellow bandmates. This extra touch loosens up the crowd brilliantly and brings everyone together.

No matter the size of the venue, they always bring 100% to their performance – never before have l jumped so much! I was definitely giving their bassist, Jacob Whitear a run for his money as he pogo-ed around HotBox.

Welly are such a brilliant band to support, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the UK’s music scene with their performance for this year’s Independent Venue Week as well as embarking on a tour of seaside towns from Hartlepool to Falmouth in 2025. If you ever get a chance to grab a ticket for a live tour, they are definitely worth the investment!