Diving Into Swim School’s World in London
words + photography by NADINE GOETZScottish indie-rock band Swim School brought the heat to the North London venue The Garage on November 20th. The band toured the UK and Europe throughout November after the release of their self-titled debut album on October 31st. The album has been praised by critics for blending classic and modern indie-rock as well as the dreamy vocals of lead singer Alice Johnson. The record draws heavily on themes of love, loss and growth, reflecting on the band’s personal experiences.
The night kicked off with Gifthorse, led by Naomi Mann (vocals) and Charlie Butler (guitar). Throughout their set, they definitely got the crowd dancing and jumping, with English pop that reminded of artists like ‘The Jesus and Mary Chain’. During some songs, Mann was holding up a bouquet of flowers, waving it above her head, adding a playful spark to their set. Mann announced their last song by saying, “We wrote this song about dancing in Hackney. I think we should do the same” and the crowd did exactly that. Next up was Irish alt-rock band Basht. The five-piece band, formed in Dublin in 2021, already had some dedicated fans in the front row, seemingly hyped up for their set. The band consists of Jack Leavey (vocals), Louis Christle (bass), Sam Duffy (guitar), Rossa Healy (guitar) and Luke O’Neill (drums). They delivered a set that was energetic yet intimate, packed with honest lyrics and an electric performance – making Basht. one of the most promising newcomers in the current indie scene.
Soon after, Swim School took the stage. The trio from Edinburgh – Alice Johnson (vocals/guitar), Lewis Bunting (guitar) and Billy McMahon (drums) – has released several EPs, including ‘volume 1’ in 2021 and ‘making sense of it all’ in 2022. Formed in 2018, this year the band has finally released their debut album, featuring nine songs such as ‘Heaven’, ‘Waste Your Time’, ‘Say It All’ and ‘Always On My Mind’, which they all played that night at The Garage. The female-led rock band has built a strong bond with their fans. Lead singer Alice Johnson even joined the crowd during a mosh pit for ‘Delirious’ from their 2023 EP ‘Duality’ – a clear highlight of the night. Multiple mosh pits broke out throughout the night as the crowd jumped and danced. Johnson’s voice stood out, particularly on slower tracks like ‘Crimson Red’ as well as their more rock-infused songs. The set was nothing short of electric and energetic, keeping fans moving from start to finish. Swim School have recently supported bands like Inhaler, The Amazons, Grandson and Lovejoy, making waves in the indie scene even before the release of their debut album and steadily growing their devoted fanbase over the last years.
They ended their set with ‘see red’, a song about betrayal, anger and the pain of a relationship ending. Fittingly, the song also provided a powerful ending to a night filled with music, talent, passion and joy. Their strong stage presence, with Alice Johnson confidently leading the group, proves how well they work together as a band. It is clear how much the three-piece (now four-piece) band enjoys being in front of an audience. By the end of their set, they had more than proven their ability to captivate and connect with an audience. Swim School are clearly only getting better, leaving no doubt that even bigger and better things await them in the indie scene over the coming years.
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Nadine Goetz.
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