Sports Team: Ninety Minutes of Indie Sleaze and Beautiful Chaos at Arts Club Liverpool
Liverpool Arts Club, 25th September 2026
IMAGES L J HUBBARD / WORDS GEORGE CONNELL
Six-piece rock outfit Sports Team have quickly become staples of the scene, developing a devoted, cult fanbase in the span of only a few years. Since the release of their debut EP “Winter Nets” in 2018, the band have gone on to put out quite the discography- including three full length albums. 2025’s Boys These Days is their biggest breakthrough yet, packed with witty lyrics and tales of suburban Middle England. Their latest release ‘Billy’ dropped on September 7, their first release for over a year, and is one of their strongest tracks to date.
Friday night saw Liverpool’s Arts Club fill out with hundreds of eager fans, all buzzing to see the Cambridge rockers take to the stage. Luckily for punters, Sports Team had not one, but two fantastic support acts lined up before their nine o’clock stage time.
Pack of Animals took to the stage first, an explosive young rock act with incredible energy and stage presence. With driving guitars and captivating lyrics, the Bristolian five-piece had no trouble getting the room riled up, exuding raw emotion and power during their short, punchy set. Comparable with older bands like Kasabian, The Stones Roses, and The Doors, as well as contemporaries STONE and Morningstar, Pack of Animals are definitely going places.
Next up was Mancunian dance-indie fusion outfit Porij. One of the most talked about new bands in the UK, this set certainly didn’t disappoint. Immediately, it was clear how different the sound of this group was to anything else in the circuit- uniquely blending old-school house, jazz, indie rock, and post-punk elements into one, cohesive melody. Fresh and intense, Porij deliver energy you’d find in a packed, dingy Northern Quarter bar on a Saturday night- drifting between genres in their own unique style.
As the adrenaline of the room surged, it was time for the main event: Sports Team. The first thing that was delightfully apparent about this crowd was their energy and enthusiasm- assisted greatly by a group of lads at the centre of the room.
Kicking their set off with ‘The Game’, the band established themselves very quickly as in control of the room. As the room bounced and cheered- eventually forming a mosh pit (which would become a hilariously common occurrence over the next ninety minutes, thanks to the aforementioned group of boys)- the command of the audience fell entirely into frontman Alex Rice’s palm. It’s rare these days to be able to find a group with such an innate ability to perform, and Sports Team are that group.
As the band marched on through their set, their energy did not waver once. Delivering a mix of post-punk edge and indie sleaze, ‘Palomino’ and ‘The Drop’ were undeniable highlights of the set, packed with witty lyrics and gritty guitars. Sports Team are very clearly a band who don’t take themselves too seriously, and it’s refreshing to see- watching as band deliver a punchy backing to Rice’s Jarvis Cocker-esque dance moves it is very clear why the Cambridge rockers have become so beloved by their fans- let alone the uniqueness of their sound.
‘Bang Bang Bang’ offered up a more blues-driven sound- yet another layer of diversity to the group’s complex and ever-evolving fusion of genres. This was certainly a crowd favourite, and has no trouble getting the crowd moving. From the back of the room, the energy of the venue was quintessentially Top of the Pops in all the best ways. While the band are undoubtedly more than the Britpop-revival group they have often been labelled as by the press, there is something beautiful about the way they revive that nineties energy and joy.
As the band worked their way through hit after hit, it became impossible to place any particular standout track- every single tune was met with the same, relentless enthusiasm. If that isn’t a testament to the brilliance of Sports Team’s whole discography, then what is?
‘I’m In Love (Subaru)’ and ‘M5’ certainly stood out as some of the group's finest songwriting- plating up important messages in a way that doesn't depress the listener. It is hard to imagine that it’s possible to deliver social commentary on material culture and capitalism while keeping it light and comedic, but this band does just that.
‘Billy’ was one of the last songs in the set- though it was clear suspense had been building for it from the very start. The band’s latest release, ‘Billy’ is suburban, laddish, and undeniably British. Taking audience participation to another level during the short duration of the track, it seemed like the crowd managed to be even louder than the band at times- and that is no small feat.
‘Here's The Thing’ was a personal highlight- though that was to be expected. The standout track off the band’s 2025 LP, this song is beloved by fans for a reason. Packed with social and political messages, adrenaline-filled verses, and outstanding musicality, this was undeniably one of the best moments of the night- and there was some stiff competition.
Closing off with ‘Stanton,’ one of their earliest tunes, it was eventually time for the band to depart from the stage (much to the upset of fans). As the punters filtered out, soundtracked by Frank Sinatra’s ‘That’s Life,’ it was very clear that Sports Team had left their mark on the sweaty Liverpool venue. Powerful, hilarious, and relentlessly engaging, Sports Team are one of the best bands on the scene at the moment, and we can only hope for more from them (hopefully, sometime in the near future). As for the fans, it is more than clear they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
SETLIST
The Game
Happy (God’s Own Country)
Palomino
The Drop
Bang Bang Bang
Here It Comes Again
I’m In Love (Subaru)
M5
Fishing
Camel Crew
Tequila Rose
Here’s The Thing
Kutcher
Stanton
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