Gig: Ride @ Hackney Church, London
Ride by Jez Pennington
Part of Sonic Cathedral’s 20th birthday celebrations, the iconic Hackney Church played host to an unforgettable night of shoegaze and experimental sounds, headlined by none other than Ride. The Oxford legends revisited their historic Reading ’92 set, bringing the raw energy of their breakthrough to a sold-out London crowd. Joining them were a stellar supporting cast, including Gen Z shoegazers bdrmm, electronic polymath Pye Corner Audio, and Moon Diagrams, the solo project of Deerhunter’s Moses Archuleta.
For fans of the genre, this was more than just a gig — it was a celebration of past and future, with Sonic Cathedral proving once again why it remains at the cutting edge of alternative music. With Hackney Church’s stunning acoustics and a lineup that spanned generations, the night was a perfect tribute to the label’s two decades of pushing sonic boundaries.
Pye Corner Audio
Pye Corner captivated the audience with a set of haunting electronics and atmospheric soundscapes. His performance took the audience on a journey through eerie, cinematic sound worlds, blending pulsing synths and hypnotic beats. The immersive, otherworldly vibe perfectly set the tone for the shoegaze-heavy acts that would follow, creating a fitting contrast to the dreamy distortion that lay ahead.
bdrmm
Next up were Hull’s own bdrmm, who brought the intensity to new heights. The Gen Z quintet, known for their dreamy yet powerful shoegaze sound, delivered a full rendition of their acclaimed debut album Bedroom, originally released on Sonic Cathedral in 2020. Tracks like “Momo” and “Happy” reverberated through the church’s vast space, each note drenched in reverb and echo, enveloping the audience in a wash of sound. There was a deep sense of melancholy and beauty in their performance, with the band locking into long, immersive jams that felt both introspective and explosive. Their set was a powerful reminder of why bdrmm are seen as the torchbearers for a new wave of shoegaze, blending the genre’s signature haze with fresh, youthful urgency.
Ride
Ride’s decision to revisit their legendary Reading ’92 set was a dream come true, and they did not disappoint. Kicking things off with the swirling guitars of “Leave Them All Behind,” the band immediately transported the audience back to the early '90s. From the euphoric crescendos of “OX4” to the relentless drive of “Twisterella,” Ride delivered a masterclass in how to craft timeless, dynamic shoegaze anthems. The interplay between Andy Bell and Mark Gardener’s shimmering guitars and the steady groove of Loz Colbert on drums created an overwhelming wall of sound that felt as fresh as ever.
Closing with the anthemic “Mouse Trap,” Ride left the stage to rapturous applause, having fully reminded the crowd why their place in shoegaze history is unquestionable. As the final notes echoed through Hackney Church, it was clear that Sonic Cathedral’s 20th birthday had been marked in truly spectacular fashion.
