Music Critic Daisy Holian describes ‘Twangmas’ as a must-attend event for fans of indie and alternative music
After a year of acoustic shows, The Twang are back with the full band for their annual Twangmas tour. Concluding the tour, the band performed a sold-out homecoming show at the O2 Academy Birmingham on the 20th of December 2025. This indie rock band sincerely have something special about their performance, perhaps since this show in particular was so rooted in its own prideful local personality.
The Bracknell, as the first opener, set the alternative indie rock tone for the night.
Although playing to a small and incomplete crowd early into the night, The Bracknell, as the first opener, set the alternative indie rock tone for the night. And as the venue began to fill, the second opener, Brògeal brought their Scottish indie folk-punk to Birmingham. Brògeal definitely have their own unique sound, yet their music certainly brought the crowd to life, especially with their rendition of ‘There She Goes’ by The La’s that really invigorated the crowd with an energetic excitement as we awaited headliner. They are certainly a band to keep an eye on as an up-and-coming band emerging successfully onto the indie scene.
The Twang are a band who have always been played in my home and I first saw them play a set, albeit one that was cut short not to the bands own fault, at the Portsmouth Victorious festival back in 2019. So, experiencing a full concert has been on my bucket list for a while, and Twangmas was just the way to do it. In a crowd of just three-thousand people, this was an intimate show however, the spirit was that of thirty thousand people where a football crowd atmosphere took hold with people chanting for the band. Ebullient fans filled the room, both young and old, fully immerse in the palpably electric atmosphere that continued throughout the night.
Opening with ‘Take This On’, the crowd were immediately engaged in lead singer Phil Etheridge’s lively swagger. The band adopt this energetic nineties and noughties style echoing that of The Streets, Oasis, and The Libertines. However, although drawing qualities of traditional brit-pop, indie rock and alternative genres, The Twang are truly a distinctive band, creating a spirited original sound.
However, despite this laddish exterior to The Twang, which of course is a feature of the bands appeal to their audiences, there is also a poeticism behind their lyrics. As the band began to play ‘We’re a Crowd’ Brummie charm indeed shone through, with the entire crowd expressing a collective pride for the city, something that doesn’t often happen in a city that is too often thought so little of. Instead, The Twang encourage a unifying resilience and confidence, powerfully repeating “This is our town, and we live here”, overcoming the usual disdainful connotations that Birmingham carries.
Etheridge balanced crowd interaction and performance well
Etheridge balanced crowd interaction and performance well; ‘You on my Shoulders’ saw the frontman stating, “You know what to do Birmingham, I want to see some of your beautiful faces” as the crowd climbed up on peoples shoulders in a festival like fashion. And following, the crowd pleasers were of course ‘Either Way’, ‘Two Lovers’, and ‘Barney Rubble’. These fan favourites, staples of The Twang’s discography, is where the crowd really came alive, galvanising the entire venue into a frenzy with pints flying and arms up in the air.
Nearing the encore, Ash Sheehan’s notable drum solo, playing out ‘Wide Awake’ was an extraordinary display of the bands talent and engagement, keeping up the enthusiasm in the crowd who continued to chant the song’s vocal hook long after Etheridge left the stage.
Then, as the band exited the stage and the crowd awaited the encore, Santa Claus, yes Santa Claus, came out throwing presents of merch into the crowd, following the tradition of Twangmas, as the band’s Christmas single ‘On the 24th’ played over the speakers. Although I must admit that, as one of my favourite Christmas songs, I wish the band played this live.
Twangmas really is one of those traditions that anyone who loves the indie and alternative rock genre should attend
Ultimately, Twangmas really is one of those traditions that anyone who loves the indie and alternative rock genre should attend, promising festivity and replenishing energy in time for Christmas, whether the band is well known or completely new to you.
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