Trampolene Make The Lexington Bounce:
- Dave Broome
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Lexington, London 2nd February 2026
IMAGES DAVE BROOME / WORDS STEFANI NTOURMENOPOULOS
A triumphant return to the stage for the boys from Swansea
The performance by Trampolene — on a cold and wintry February evening no less — reminded me why I moved to London in the first place, because on a dreary Monday night you can walk into a sold out gig and remember what it is to feel alive.
The night began with Tres Kings taking the stage at The Lexington; an iconic indie music venue, having seen the likes of Jake Bugg, Wet Leg, and even an early iteration of Tame Impala grace the stage. Entering with bravado to spare, Tres Kings commanded the space, drawing the crowd out of the shadows and didn’t let up. Lead singer, Wes King, stalked the stage like he was more than just a support act, but the main event himself. The audience eagerly lapped up his confidence, which boded well for what was to follow. Support acts often come packaged with overly-effusive gratitude and nerves, but neither of these seemed present in Tres Kings. Self-assured and energetic, set highlights included “ET”, and closing track, “Brass Monkey”.
With only a short turnaround between acts, The Lexington really began to pack out. Anticipation filled the air for the long-awaited return of Trampolene. Charismatic lead singer and driving force of the band, Jack Jones, took to the stage clad in a khaki parka and decadent fur hoodie, which he proudly declared mid-set was from “Hinge, no Vinted”. Staunchly refusing to take off the jacket, he threw the fur hood around which became as much a set piece as the mics and guitars. To see Jones in action is to stand to attention. Looking like a cross between a young Tom Welling or James Blunt, and the bone structure of Sophie Ellis Bextor, he arrested the crowd with not just his cheekbones and eyes, but firm insistence that he belongs on stage. The space is his. Clearly energised by the prowess of his own band — his Swansea high school mates — he gave it his all, even diving into the crowd by the show’s end.
Styling and theatrics aside, the set was a strong mix of older crowd favourites, spoken word segments and new music. While some of the new songs may have needed a little more fine-tuning when being played live, they nestled in surprisingly well with their previous material. Set highlight came in the form of the centrepiece, “No Love No Kisses”. The crowd — while in the palm of their hand from the opening few songs — noticeably lifted here. Indeed, the audience lovingly played along the entire evening; clapping and calling back at all requisite intervals, which only emboldened Jones and his band further. Personally, I also enjoyed both spoken word interludes, “Ketamine” and “Poundland”, for their comically depressing take on English life, which also made it easy to see why cult poet, John Cooper Clarke — often referred to as “the Godfather of punk poetry” — was captured by the band.
It was quite something to be part of a small sweaty room filled with adoring fans of a band which once-upon-a-time stood on the cusp of real greatness. The nostalgia for an era some might say has gone by was palpable. With that said, it will be interesting to see how Trampolene proceed from here, seeing as the momentum they held in the room for that hour was the stuff all bands — big or small — long to hold.
SET LIST
1. Sort Me Out
2. You Do Nothing for Me
3. Help Me Get Off My Face
4. It's Not Rock & Roll
5. What you going to do about it
6. Ketamine
7. Thinking Again
8. Imagine Something Yesterday
9. No Love No Kisses
10. Beautiful Pain
11. Stop Killing Me Sarah
12. Pound Land
13. Uncle Brian's Abattoir
14. Here's Jonny
15. Alcohol Kiss
FOLLOW OF TRAMPOLENE
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