GRASSROOTS AND GRIT HOTWAX PROVE WHY THE UK’S INDEPENDENT VENUES REMAIN THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE MUSIC SCENE
- Desh Kapur
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
Sydney and Matilda Sheffield - 6th February 2026
WORDS / IMAGES PHIL THORNS
Post-punk grit, riot-grrrl attitude and grassroots loyalty collide on the Hot Shock Tour 2026
Before the amps even warm up, Yellow Arch Studios brings plenty of its own history to the night. The building began life as an Edwardian nuts-and-bolts factory, part of the network of small industrial workshops run by Sheffield’s famed “Little Mesters,” the skilled metalworkers who powered the city’s cutlery trade. For a time it sat derelict in what was then a rough industrial stretch of Kelham Island, but from 7 October 1997 the space found a second life as recording studios, later becoming a fully licensed live venue in February 2015.
Kelham Island itself has gone from soot-covered factory district to one of the most talked-about neighbourhoods in the UK, now packed with bars, breweries, and creative spaces while still keeping that industrial edge. Yellow Arch Studios has grown into a cultural anchor of the area, with artists ranging from Arctic Monkeys and Jarvis Cocker to Kylie Minogue recording or performing there, proof of how firmly the venue sits on the UK music map.
Excellent early-evening noise came from Jeanie and the White Boys, fronted by the fiercely charismatic Jeanie Crystal, whose London based punk rock and roll outfit already has a reputation for chaos in the best possible way. Plenty of punters made sure they were in early, a clear sign the band’s pulling power is building fast. Formed in 2024 and already landing a Glastonbury slot as only their second gig, their rise has been sharp and deserved.
The set was messy, provocative and wildly entertaining, exactly what a support slot should be. New faces in the line-up added fresh bite, and the crowd was right with them from the off, shouting back every chorus and pushing the room’s energy up a notch. Tracks like ‘Queen Bee’ and ‘Psycho Friller’ stood out as early favourites, short bursts of snarling punk attitude that left the floor buzzing and nicely warmed up for the rest of the night.
With the room already more than warmed up, it wasn’t long before Sidney and Matilda tipped from busy to virtually full as HotWax hit the stage, bringing their Hot Shock Tour 2026 to Sheffield. I’d been especially looking forward to this one, having first caught them supporting Kaiser Chiefs at Temple Newsam last year where they were one of the standout surprises of the entire festival. That early impression only heightened the sense of anticipation in the room, the kind you get when a band’s reputation has travelled faster than them. Tight, sweaty and buzzing, the venue felt exactly right for what was coming next.
The Brighton-based trio, Tallulah Sim-Savage, Lola Sam, and Alfie Sayers, wasted no time getting into it. From the opening blast of ‘Hard Goodbye’, the energy snapped into focus, quickly spilling out into the crowd as bodies started moving and a small but enthusiastic mosh pit took shape near the front. ‘Wanna Be A Doll’ and ‘Strange To Be Here’ followed, raw and punchy, setting the tone for a set that balanced control with chaos.
Midway through the show, Tallulah paused to talk about the importance of small, independent venues to bands like theirs. It wasn’t a throwaway comment. It felt genuine, and it landed hard in a room that represents exactly what she was talking about. HotWax have long been vocal supporters of grassroots venues, and seeing them say it out loud, halfway through a packed Sheffield date, made the message feel earned rather than rehearsed.
Nine of the seventeen songs played came from the debut LP Hot Shock, meaning just over half the show leaned directly on the album, with the rest pulling from earlier EP material and newer live cuts. Tracks like ‘She’s Got A Problem’, ‘Dress Our Love’ and ‘In Her Bedroom’ hit with real weight, while ‘Treasure’ and ‘Drop’ triggered some of the loudest sing-alongs of the night. By the time ‘Pharmacy’, ‘One More Reason’ and closer ‘Rip It Out’ rolled around, the room was fully locked in. Very impressive.
There’s a wonderful, unspoken connection between Tallulah and Lola on stage, years of playing together and a friendship going back to school days translating into easy movement and constant eye contact, and that chemistry pulls the crowd in rather than pushing them back. People danced, shouted every lyric they knew, and stayed fully engaged right to the end.
Edgy, entertaining and just the right side of chaotic, HotWax delivered a set that felt tailor-made for this space. Coming off the back of such a strong support slot, it capped the night perfectly and underlined why they’re becoming one of the most exciting live bands on the circuit right now. A big thumbs up and really looking forward to catching them again at Rebellion in August.
SET LIST
‘Hard Goodbye’
‘Wanna Be A Doll’
‘Tell Me Everything’s Alright’
‘Strange To Be Here’
‘Change My Name’
‘Dress Our Love’
‘Paint It Nice’
‘Treasure’
‘She’s Got A Problem’
‘Drop’
‘In Her Bedroom’
‘Lie There’
‘1000 X’
‘Chip My Teeth For You’
‘Pharmacy’
‘One More Reason’
‘Rip It Out
GIGS
Tue 10 Feb 2026 – Cluny 2, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
HotWax live show as part of their UK run.
Wed 11 Feb 2026 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, England, UK
HotWax plus special guests: Jeanie and The White Boys.
Thu 12 Feb 2026 – Gorilla, Manchester, England, UK
HotWax continues their UK run.
Fri 13 Feb 2026 – Chalk, Brighton, England, UK
Another UK headline date with the band.
Sun 15 Feb 2026 – Cinetol, Amsterdam, Netherlands
European date on the HotWax tour.
Mon 16 Feb 2026 – Mikropol, Berlin, Germany
HotWax heads into continental Europe.
Wed 18 Feb 2026 – Voodoo Club, Warsaw, Poland
Part of HotWax’s ongoing “Hot Shock” tour.
Thu 19 Feb 2026 – Cross Club, Prague, Czech Republic
European stop on the band’s schedule.
Fri 20 Feb 2026 – Chelsea, Vienna, Austria
HotWax live in Austria.
Sun 22 Feb 2026 – Circolo Magnolia, Segrate, Italy
Another continental show.
Tue 24 Feb 2026 – Point Éphémère, Paris, France
HotWax headline date in France.
Wed 25 Feb 2026 – Charlatan, Gent, Belgium
Belgium date on the tour.
Sat 28 Mar 2026 – South Street Arts Centre, Reading, England, UK
HotWax headline the Beat Connection event featuring MOULD, Modern Woman, and Puma Theory.
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