Mother Mother Light Up Brixton Academy with a Genre-Bending, Emotion-Fuelled Set
- Alan Bryce
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
Brixton Academy- 16th July 2025
WORDS / IMAGES ALAN BRYCE
Mother Mother, originally formed as ‘Mother’ in 2005 on Quadra Island, BC, began with siblings Ryan and Molly Guldemond and singer Debra-Jean Creelman. After changing their name and adding bassist Jeremy Page and drummer Kenton Loewen, they re-released their debut as Touch Up in 2007. With Ali Siadat replacing Loewen in 2008, the band recorded O My Heart, featuring "Hayloft," which gained viral success on TikTok in 2020. Following Creelman’s departure in 2009, Jasmin Parkin joined, and the band went on to release Eureka (2011), The Sticks (2012), Very Good Bad Thing (2014), and No Culture (2017), during which Mike Young replaced Page on bass. Their 2018 album Dance and Cry included the hit "Get Up," while 2021’s Inside, recorded during the pandemic, explored themes of isolation and self-love. A sequel track, "Hayloft 2," was added to the deluxe edition in 2022. The band has continued their momentum with Grief Chapter (2024) and Nostalgia (2025).
Supporting the release of Nostalgia, Mother Mother embarked on a 17-date tour that kicked off with two Canadian shows before heading across Europe, perfectly timed to coincide with the summer festival season. Among the many highlights was their headline performance at the iconic Brixton Academy in London on July 16th—a night that proved to be a masterclass in genre-bending energy and emotional resonance.
The Brixton show opened with the punchy title track The Sticks from their 2012 album, immediately setting the tone. This was followed by fan-favourite Verbatim and the fresh, emotionally layered Make Believe from their latest record. The crowd erupted as the unmistakable opening chords of Hayloft rang out, which seamlessly transitioned into a surprise cover of Nirvana’s In Bloom, blending grunge nostalgia with their signature alt-pop flair.
The setlist expertly wove together old favourites and new material. A standout moment came with a bold, crowd-pleasing cover of Chappell Roan’s HOT TO GO!, delivered with theatrical confidence. This was followed by a cleverly curated medley from Grief Chapter, combining The Matrix with a haunting rendition of Pixies’ Where Is My Mind, underscoring the band’s musical versatility.
Midway through the show, an acoustic medley offered a well-timed breather, creating a more intimate atmosphere. Just when the energy seemed to mellow, frontman Ryan Guldemond orchestrated a surprise proposal between two audience members—an unforgettable, heartwarming moment. The band followed up with a dedication of God’s Plan to the newly engaged couple, keeping the crowd emotionally engaged before reigniting the tempo with It’s Alright and Arms Tonight, all leading up to a charged performance of Hayloft 2.
After a brief exit, the band returned for a memorable encore. They opened with To Regret from Nostalgia before Ryan spontaneously invited an audience member to pick a song, which resulted in a beautifully executed, impromptu performance of the lesser-known track Calm Me Down. The evening concluded with the hauntingly powerful Oh Ana from their debut album Touch Up, bringing the night full circle.
The performance was a powerful showcase of Mother Mother’s enduring talent, covering material from eight of their ten studio albums. While tracks from No Culture and Very Good Bad Thing were notably absent, the sheer energy, tight musicianship, and eclectic setlist more than made up for it. Ryan’s commanding stage presence, paired with Molly and Jasmin’s flawless harmonies and a rock-solid rhythm section, highlighted exactly why the band continues to captivate fans old and new. Their unique sound, charismatic delivery, and emotional depth left the crowd exhilarated and already longing for their return.
I, for one, hope to see them grace the Brixton Academy stage again very soon.
SET LIST
1/ The Sticks
2/ Verbatim
3/ Make Believe
4/ Hayloft / In Bloom
5/ Love to Death
6/ The Cry Forum
7/ HOT TO GO!
(Chappell Roan cover)
8/ The Matrix / Where Is My Mind?
9/ Explode!
10/ The Stand
11/ Until It Doesn’t Hurt
12/ ON AND ON (Song for Jasmin)
13/ Burning Pile
Set 2:
14/ Tic Toc / Touch Up / Body / Ghosting / Little Pistol
15/ God’s Plan
(Snippet (Proposal Celebration))
16/ It's Alright
17/ Arms Tonite
18/ Hayloft II
Encore:
19/ To Regret
20/ Eureka Title Track (Unreleased)
(Requested by fan)
21/ Oh Ana
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