On a sunny Saturday evening in Birmingham, there was a particular buzz around the open doors of The Sunflower Lounge, as the much-loved indie rock boys Arkayla were about to take to the stage. On the closing night of their sold-out May UK tour; avid fans crammed into this loud, sweaty, anthemic gig to witness this incredible band live: the next big thing on the indie scene. I was honoured to be invited by Arkayla to capture this awe-inspiring gig – I hope my words do it justice!
From the very first opening riff of Lost in a Valentine, the encapsulated crowd sang every word. The jam-packed setlist featured some old favourites such as Calling Time, to songs like Fortune Teller from their most recent EP, Don’t Look For Answers but notably, the enticing quality of their unreleased songs played such as Doba. With its’ moody guitar, catchy bassline, building sound and Cal’s outstanding vocals, it sounds like a step in the right direction for the future of Arkayla – I for one can’t wait to see what they come out with for the rest of the year. After the most recent single release of the mosh-pit ready tune Run Kid, (always met with utmost energy and enthusiasm from the crowd, this gig was no exception), along with the announcement of their huge UK tour beginning in September 2026, visiting 12 cities and most excitingly, a massive already sold-out hometown gig at the O2 Ritz Manchester. With much loved support from the likes of Cherryholt, The North and Raynor across the dates, it’s clear Arkayla are at the top of their game. With some potential releases on the horizon too, there’s no slowing down for this quartet of cool. With Cal and Fin’s orange lensed glasses, Dylan’s signature bucket hat, Joey’s Adidas denim jacket…not to mention Cal’s gorgeous white Gretsch Guitar – Arkayla had a coolness reminiscent of the 70s rock era, yet the epitome of the modern indie rock band and it was awesome to witness this stage presence.
As my first time seeing Arkayla, I can conclude it won’t be my last. A highlight for me was hearing my personal favourite Arkayla song Falling Down live, but the best part of this gig was hearing the wall to wall voices singing as one as Cal left the mic to give the crowd their time to shine during the final track Doctor – the sheer volume in response to this anthemic banger did not disappoint and just proved their sound is way beyond the size of the rooms they play. Big things are coming for this band – it’s an honour to be able to watch their growth from their early days, knowing they will be massive. It’s safe to say Arkayla have outgrown these intimate stages and won’t be playing them for much longer. After a massive gig at Neighbourhood Weekender amongst this May tour, this Manchester boys’ fan base is snowballing. The massive crowd and tangible energy at their Neighbourhood set was jaw-dropping to see but so well deserved. I highly recommend you snatch up some tickets for their tour in Autumn before they are gone – you won’t regret it!
Written by Pippa Dale
Just Music Reviews 