The Howlers take stage at Nottingham's Bodega! Desert-Tinged Grit and a Live Show That Feels Like a Fever Dream

Some bands sound better on record; others make more sense the moment they step onto a stage. The Howlers fall firmly into the second category. Have a listen to some of their songs on Spotify while you read about their live show at Nottingham's Bodega on February 13th!

There’s something cinematic about their sound — dusty guitar tones, swaggering rhythms and vocals that feel dragged straight through the smoke of a late-night bar. Their music leans into desert rock textures while still carrying the restless pulse of UK indie. It’s gritty, melodic and just rough around the edges in the best possible way.

But it’s live where things really click.

A Howlers show isn’t perfectly polished in the glossy, stadium-ready sense. Instead it’s raw and immediate — the kind of performance where the room warms quickly, bodies edge closer to the stage and the band seem to feed directly off the crowd’s energy. The guitars snarl rather than shimmer, the drums land heavy, and frontman Adam Young holds the centre of it all with a presence that feels both effortless and unpredictable.

There’s a confidence in how they move through a set. Songs surge forward with a loose, rolling momentum, building that feeling that something could tip over into chaos at any moment — but never quite does. It keeps the crowd locked in, riding every riff and chorus.

In the right venue — dim lights, sticky floors, a crowd pressed shoulder-to-shoulder — The Howlers create the kind of atmosphere that reminds you why small gigs still matter: and the Bodega was the perfect [lace to do this! It’s loud, sweaty, a little wild, and exactly the sort of night that lingers long after the amps switch off.

If Nottingham thrives on bands that bring character as much as sound, then The Howlers are a perfect fit: a group that understands that live music should feel energy and alive, not just performed.

Following their "Towns and Cites" tour over February/March, The Howlers are said to be dropping a new album in April- so keep an eye out for that on their social media and streaming platforms! Instagram Facebook

Words by Holly Surguy