{"id":336493,"date":"2025-08-11T19:28:23","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/336493\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T19:28:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:28:23","slug":"live-review-cheekface-martha-and-fresh-strange-brew-bristol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/336493\/","title":{"rendered":"Live Review: Cheekface, Martha and Fresh | Strange Brew, Bristol"},"content":{"rendered":"

August 11, 2025| Ez Luscombe<\/a> |LIVE REVIEW<\/a><\/p>\n

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Durham indie-punks Martha team up with Specialist Subject labelmates Fresh, and power-pop, novelty rockers Cheekface for a memorable and offbeat, yet politically charged show at Bristol\u2019s intimate and eclectic venue Strange Brew.<\/p>\n

Fresh <\/p>\n

Fresh<\/strong> are no stranger to the UK\u2019s diverse scene of punk-tinged indie rock and opening their support set with 2021 single \u2018The Summer I Got Good at Guitar\u2019, their energy was infectious and a great start to the night. With their Bristol show also falling on pride, the crowd was adorned with novelty fans and colourful attire which matched their musical style of peppy instrumentals mixed with vengeful lyrics that tackle women often being overlooked in the music industry, (\u2018Girl Clout\u2019 and \u2018Merch Girl\u2019) and ode to personal freedom (\u2018Going to Brighton\u2019). Their set was a notable blend of older songs, fan favourites, new songs, and a surprising cover of Tom Petty\u2019s<\/strong> \u2018I Won\u2019t Back Down\u2019 which was unexpected, yet very much appropriate in this current climate where peaceful protesters are persecuted and people who identify as LGBT having their rights questioned. Another highlight was the trauma-surviving anthem \u2018Revenge\u2019 and surely the crowd screaming the lyrics \u201cI am valued, I am loved\u201d was a cathartic release of emotion for anyone who has been a victim of abuse, violence, or harassment. Fresh<\/strong> may have only played a thirty-minute set they continue to leave a lasting impression, and have provided a safe space with their uncompromising sound and vulnerable, riot grrl adjacent lyrics.<\/p>\n

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Martha <\/p>\n

Next up were Martha<\/strong>, who have been crafting punky, introspective music that encompasses the DIY, straight-edge and vegan ethics for almost fifteen years. With the release of their B-sides compilation Standing Where It All Began, they have cemented themselves as frontrunners in the scene with a loyal crew of fans. However, unlike many of their more hardcore-motivated contemporaries, Martha\u2019s<\/strong> lyrical content ranges from pop culture nods to classic British soaps, falling in love at the supermarket, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics about trying to mosh to Huey Lewis & The News<\/strong>. Starting their set with \u2018The Void\u2019 from their third studio album Love Keeps Kicking, the energy between the group and the crowd was infectious despite Strange Brew only being a 300 capacity venue and despite their slot being less than an hour, they pulled out all the stops. Treating the crowd to deeps cuts such as \u2018The Historian\u2019 and \u20181978, Smiling Politely\u2019 as well as the fan-requested \u2018Curly & Raquel\u2019 and \u2018Precarious (The Supermarket Song)\u2019, they powered through at least fifteen songs during their set and each one was certainly more energetic than the last. Midway through their set, they spoke up about the new laws affecting peaceful protests before going into the one of their more politically motivated tracks \u2018Flag Burner\u2019 taken from their 2022 release Please Don\u2019t Take Me Back before providing the audience with information on how to donate to marginalised groups. Ending their set with early single \u2018Bubble In My Bloodstream\u2019 Martha<\/strong> certainly proved once again that they are icons in the UK indie-punk scene for not only their blend of poppy hooks and satirical humour but also for their relentless, yet necessary activism.<\/p>\n

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Cheekface <\/p>\n

Last but certainly not lease on the bill was Cheekface, <\/strong>and\u00a0it was quite obvious spotting their fans by looking at the crowd, many of which were sporting ironic cartoon character bags and ridiculously nineties Hawaiian shirts. With the band claiming a cult audience through catchy pop-punk hooks and a lyrical style that puts an unserious filter on modern-day societal woes, it\u2019s easy to see why they\u2019ve struck a chord with the average American citizen. The only way to sum up Cheekface\u2019s<\/strong> set was the type of house party you would find in a quirky, offbeat 90s sitcom and starting their set with tongue-in-cheek and irony-laced \u2018Popular 2\u2019, there was less moshing and more disco-dancing. The band also incorporated classic anthems such as DJ Casper\u2019s<\/strong> UK school disco staple \u2018The Cha Cha Slide\u2019 amidst their peppy, yet sardonic \u2018Featured Singer\u2019, Chappell Roan\u2019s<\/strong> queer modern classic \u2018Pink Pony Club\u2019 which felt particularly relevant during the Bristol pride weekend, and an unexpected nu-metal cover of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers<\/strong> complete with topless percussionist Mark \u2018Echo\u2019 Edwards belting out the lyrics with insane precision. Another highlight from Cheekface\u2019s<\/strong> set was their silly thirty-second ode to cup ramen \u2018Noodles\u2019 which got the crowd jumping and yelling the only lyrics to the song; \u201ca big cup of noodles, a giant cup of noodles\u201d and not only cemented them as America\u2019s Local Band-but also America\u2019s most comical band. Touring to promote their February release Middle Spoon which has been endorsed by both long-time fans and popular online music critics alike due to their dry, uncompromising spoken-word delivery courtesy of frontman Greg Katz, their wry and ironic wit translated swimmingly to a UK audience.<\/p>\n

Ending with sarcastic smash-hit \u2018Listen To Your Heart, No.\u2019 many would agree that all three bands, Fresh<\/strong> with their fresh (no pun intended) take on feminism in modern alternative music, Martha\u2019s<\/strong> melodic yet hard-hitting and relevant activism, and Cheekface\u2019s<\/strong> humorous and mocking take on the mundane; this triple bill proved that punk and DIY spaces are still very much a home for the sarcastic, the sincere, and most importantly the outspoken.<\/p>\n

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