- What a year for music. The Oasis vs Blur battle (have we witnessed such an epic chart showdown since?).Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio dominated the airwaves, and Alanis Morissette became the epitome of the woman scorned with her iconic album Jagged Little Pill. I was only eleven, but I remember the music from that year so vividly—it might have even been the first year I truly fell in love with music.
One album released that year that I didn’t listen to at the time—but I do recall the single Great Things—was On, the second album from Echobelly. They were part of that golden Britpop moment that defined so much of mid-nineties culture. Earlier this year, the band announced they’d be celebrating the 30th anniversary of On with a tour, and, as if it couldn’t get any more nostalgic, Babybird (yes, the band behind You’re Gorgeous) would be joining them as support.
So last night, I decided to take a step back into the mid-nineties and head to the Electric Ballroom in Camden to witness the On tour. The evening started slightly chaotically—as these things tend to—when I had the fun of having my bag searched. All fine and dandy, unless, like me, you’ve gone straight from work with a fully loaded rucksack. Every nook and cranny was inspected, and a random TARDIS keyring was pulled out of the front pocket rather suspiciously. (Well, officer, how else do you expect me to travel back to 1995?)
We made it inside just in time to catch Babybird performing that song, and there’s no denying that singer Stephen Jones still sounded great all these years later. The crowd seemed to love it—there was a definite wave of nostalgia in the air.
Then it was time for Echobelly. By some miracle, we ended up right at the front by the barrier. The place had already been packed when we arrived, and people had been pushing and shoving past us during Babybird’s set—tall people included, who naturally decided that right in front of us was the perfect spot. But, in a first for me, a very tall man actually offered to swap places with us! So we ended up at the barrier, slightly to the side, but blissfully free of elbows and spilled drinks. Perfect.
Echobelly played the whole of On to start with, meaning some of their biggest hits arrived early in the set, including Great Things—a song that feels even more meaningful to me now as an adult who’s gone through big life changes this past year. Singing along felt almost cathartic, like making a promise to myself: I wanna do great things, I don’t wanna compromise. There was also King of the Kerb, another highlight that had the crowd completely enraptured.
What really stood out for me was how expressive Sonya Madan is as a performer. She moves her hands a lot as she sings, and there’s something about the way she looks out into the crowd—it feels intimate, as though she’s trying to connect with every single person in the room.
She also came across as wonderfully down-to-earth, joking with the audience and happily taking requests. When someone randomly shouted “Do Atom!”, she grinned and obliged without hesitation, clearly enjoying herself as much as we were.
After finishing On, the band moved into a selection of songs from across their catalogue, blending old favourites with more obscure b sides that shows they’re still evolving while staying true to their melodic, thoughtful sound. By the time they closed, the entire room was singing and smiling, and it felt less like a gig and more like a joyful reunion—between fans, between band and audience, and maybe even between our younger and current selves.
Walking out into the cool Camden night, I couldn’t help but think how full-circle it all felt. The music that soundtracked my early sense of self is still here, still vital, still connecting people thirty years on. And that, to me, is what truly makes music timeless.
Echobelly are continuing the On tour with a few more dates across the UK- you can find the dates on their website
Echobelly Socials-Instagram/Facebook
Review and Photos by Hayley Foster da Silva
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This was pretty much my experience but without the bag search. Followed it up 24 hours later with EMF / Jesus Jones / Bis (and a surprise appearance from the Utah Saints). It’s amazing that I have a voice left.