Matt Wellham
After years of photographing and filming the London music scene, Matt’s now based in Sydney, Australia. A lover of the post-punk and alternative movement, he can usually be found in the grassroots venues, camera in one hand and a beer in the other.
CLUNK kicked off 2026 with a sold-out all-dayer at Notting Hill Arts Club alongside Super Deluxe Club, showcasing seven standout emerging UK acts. From intimate acoustic moments to high-energy indie, the night showcased a wide range of upcoming talent, reaffirming CLUNK’s commitment to championing the next wave of new music.
To kick off 2026, CLUNK collaborated with Super Deluxe Club to put on an all-dayer gig in London. Boasting seven acts from across the UK and with tickets officially SOLD OUT, it shaped up to be an eclectic belter of an evening.
Hosted at Notting Hill Arts Club, shortly after 5pm the basement venue began to fill with fans, eager to set their sights on some of the most exciting up-and-coming talent.
First up was singer-songwriter Eli Carvajal. Known for creating intimate, comforting spaces, Eli’s acoustic set delivered a raw, emotional performance. Strumming detailed melodies on his right-handed guitar, held left-handed (yes, upside down), he paired this with delicate vocals that tackled deeply personal lyrical narratives.
Between songs, Eli spoke about the influences behind his music. His parents, who were standing proudly in the crowd, featured in a number of tracks, alongside reflections on time recently spent teaching in Japan.
His recent record ‘Eyen Forever’ is an evocative listen from start to finish and I’d recommend deep-diving into some of his older work too. ‘Sauna’, which he played live, was a personal favourite.
Eli was followed by London locals Honest Work. In a recent interview, the band told me they wanted to create good old-fashioned rock and they certainly delivered, with a seriously gutsy performance.
Working through a set packed with mostly unreleased material, lead singer Curtis and guitarist Tom shared vocal duties, snarling out punchy, sharp lyrics. Finn and Matt in the rhythm section had the walls vibrating with thundering bass lines and Finn’s snappy drums. It was exactly what the group promised me: no nonsense, no bullshit, just proper fun rock bangers.
Their debut single ‘Horses for Meat’ tore through the now packed-out 200-capacity room. Distorted guitars howled in unison as the lyrics tackled modern life and its often dystopian outlook.
Catching up with the band at the bar afterwards, and knowing they’ve got future singles already recorded and in the bank, I’m seriously stoked to hear what Honest Work release next.
Up next were Unlucky, a band shrouded in mystery. With no released music and relatively cryptic social pages, it was hard to know what to expect, though word on the street suggested they’d been dominating stages across London.
That reputation quickly made sense. The three-piece launched straight into a heavy, strobe-blasting set, blending pounding energy with synth-led electronica that kept mosher’s heads banging. It was high-octane, totally unique stuff.
That ferocity was paired with delicate, almost whispered vocals, reminiscent of Thom Yorke, creating ambient breaks that completely shifted the atmosphere. Dynamic and unpredictable, it was a performance that had me hooked from the start. I’ll be keeping a close eye on Unlucky in 2026, with more London shows already announced.
Hailing from Leeds, Green Gardens took to the stage next. Bathed in soft, warm hues, the vibe shifted from heavy moshes to intricate, meandering guitar licks.
Their recent record ‘Thistlesifting’ was a personal favourite towards the end of 2025 and seeing it performed live only reinforced that love for it. Green Gardens delivered the same emotional tenderness they capture on record, with live harmonies, particularly on ‘Ghost of a Tree’, leaving the hushed crowd gently swaying. It brought to mind bands like Palace, who have a knack for quietly pulling at the heartstrings.
With a busy 2026 ahead and a UK-wide tour announced for March, Green Gardens are well worth catching if you get the chance.
Next, big long sun squeezed themselves onto the stage, bringing with them an eclectic mix of whimsical art rock, psych and folk.
The eight-piece (sometimes fewer, I can only imagine what it’s like trying to sync eight calendars) have been picking up a fair bit of press attention lately. Their 2025 record ‘whatever (whatever)’ blends that wide genre palette into something infectious and playful.
Live, they took the record apart and dialled the quirkiness up to 13. Sometimes funky, sometimes folky, sometimes dancey, but always catchy. With limited stage space, the band threw themselves into the performance, crashing about to drones and trembling riffs.
Recent single ‘my stars aligning’ was a real highlight. At the centre of it all, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Broughton commanded the room, leading the chanting chorus with ease.
You’ll be seeing a lot more of big long sun in 2026, trust us, they’re on the brink of something big.
As the night rolled on, it was time for Absolutely Anytime to take over. As the London-based five-piece stepped up, it was clear they were crowd favourites, with the room bursting well beyond capacity.
I’ve caught Absolutely Anytime live a couple of times now, across a variety of stages and each time they impress with just how much energy they pour into their performances. No matter the size of the stage or the quality of the sound system, they give it everything they’ve got, every single time.
And what they’ve got are seriously catchy indie ear-worms. Their recent EP ‘fall apart together’ is stacked with bangers and live they hit another level entirely. ‘Brick Lane’ and ‘13th Floor’ were monumental. Frontman Sam belted out snappy lyrics while the rest of the band shredded around him.
‘Guts’, a song they’ve been playing live for a while now, was a standout moment. Conrad tore through the solo (his parents also in the crowd to soak it all in), while drummer Noush flew around the kit, letting the cymbals sing. Pure joy to watch, they had the entire room bouncing.
With performances like this and tunes to match, it’s only a matter of time before Absolutely Anytime starts popping up on bigger stages and festival bills.
As the crowd settled, it was time for tonight’s headliners World News. The four-piece stepped out in suits, shirts and ties, bringing a lighter indie rock sound to close the night, with tones reminiscent of The Smiths in parts.
The crowd hollered along as the band tore through hits including ‘Everything Is Coming Up Roses’, ‘Don’t Want to Know’ and ‘Red’, each packed with the bright, jangly guitar licks they’re known for.
‘Wrapped in Gold’ and ‘The Tinman’ really sent the room into motion. Fans clapped and screamed “Wrapped in gold, I’ve been told nothing’s real here!” on repeat, while ‘The Tinman’ had everyone belting out their best “OHHHHHHHHHH”.
World News pair infectious tunes with a confident stage presence and crowd interaction to match. With a big UK/EU tour coming up this year, do yourself a favour and grab tickets while you can.
At CLUNK, we’re dead proud to support upcoming artists we believe in. Collaborating with Super Deluxe Club on this night has been a real pleasure and seeing the response from fans has been genuinely incredible. We promise we’ll be back soon, so keep your eyes peeled for the next one.
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