\[ some elements originally published 26/03/2014 and 05/12/2014 ]
THE BUG CLUB
Corn Exchange, Newport - 6th February 2026
Support: The Family Battenberg, Airflo
The Bug Club? In Newport? For FREE??? Surely I'm dreaming? Nope, I'm wide awake and it is happening. A band from just up the road who are getting bigger and bigger, with an international record deal and a discography already rivalling those of some bands who have been around for decades - Sam, Tilly and whoever they've roped in to drum for them turned up at the Corn Exchange to show the uninitiated what all the fuss is about, and keep longer term fans like us happy.
The show opened with Airflo, a band boasting members from Newport and Bristol who have clearly dived headlong into their parents' old Britpop collection and mixed it up with some more contemporary influences. A decent start, for sure.
But it was The Family Battenberg who really got things going. We last saw this lot a year prior, also supporting the Bug Club. They're great fun in a kind of garage-punk meets glam rock kind of way.
It was during their set that some twat decided he would run through the crowd and literally just throw himself about, jumping into whoever was in his way without any regard for others. He wasn't moshing - plenty were - he was just being a complete dick. At least, he was until someone kicked him hard in the shin, taking his legs from under him, causing him to fall flat on his arse. Everyone just stood looking at him, completely bewildered at what was going on. He struggled to his feet, clearly hurt, stood still for a moment with the most sheepish look on his face I've ever seen, before slinking off quietly not to be seen again for the rest of the night. A truly odd moment.
As for Bug Club - well we got what we came for, the usual good-humoured, often sardonic, occasionally surreal punk-fused set spanning the band's career. We also got a new track, Watching The Omnibus, which a couple weeks later was announced as the first single from their new album. Yes, another new album. Damn, this band works hard.
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