Fresh off the back of their new album Down There!, eclectic four-piece Folly Group took a trip up to Nottingham, offering punchy genre-mashing art-post-punk.
Folly Group were accompanied by a band equally as experimental and cohesive as themselves; pencil, returning to Rescue Rooms after supporting The Japanese House on tour last year. Despite these similarities in approach, the two bands are incredibly different tonally, befitting the eclectic and beautifully chaotic energy of the headline act. pencil craft gorgeously dreamlike pieces, mixing musical modes through blending Coco Inman’s ex-Philharmonic Orchestra violin expertise with experimental indie-rock sensibilities. The London quintet swim between light and floating sounds and indulgent depth and intensity, perhaps best highlighted in The Giant, one of two tracks released on streaming service by the band. Frontman Kamran Khan’s vocals swirl around violin arpeggios and brushed drums in a way that can only be described as delicious. They are definitely ones to watch. 7/10
It was certainly an interesting trade off to go from grand atmosphere with instrumental interludes to Folly Group’s driving percussive force. Starting out the fate with Awake and Hungry from their debut EP of the same name, the band crafted a set list that encompassed everything they’ve brought to the table so far – and, wow, there’s a whole lot there. Folly Group have developed a sound that is hard to pinpoint or categorise, bringing together art-rock, trip-hop, afro beat and the kitchen sink, creating a dynamic and fun set list for fans.
It was incredibly exciting to get to hear tracks from the new album, Down There! for the first time since its release, which the band seemed to enjoy just as much as the audience, with Kai Akinde-Hummel beaming during some of the bigger fills being played on the drum pad. In particular, Strange Neighbour – and catchy and quirky cut from the record – and the wonderfully intense Big Ground shone the hardest, and got the crowd going.
The double percussive set-up of Folly Group translates brilliantly to a live setting, combining a traditional drum kit with a drum pad, cowbells and an egg shaker to be all encompassing and thoroughly engaging. Akinde-Hummel and vocalist/drummer Sean Harper, who typically provided aggressive and punchy drumming on the kit, swapped places for a number of tracks which allowed Harper to provide the room with a captivating vocal performance behind the mic, with true swaggering rockstar energy. That’s not to diminish his offerings behind the drumkit; his biting, driving contributions provide a unique, high-energy layer to each track.
At times, the double percussive set up did make it difficult to hear the guitar and bass, particularly given their intended sharp delivery. Despite this though, the band offered a vibrant and energetic set, that deserves to be enjoyed by bigger audiences. Closing out with Frame and the ever so boisterous I Raise You (The Price of Your Head), it remained clear why Folly Group have managed to garner a cult following. As the band graduates to these bigger venues, it’ll be interesting to see how they share their eclectic, best-kept secret sound, but don’t worry – this band are only on the rise. 7/10
Written By: Izzy Morris
