Rum Jungle
Electric Ballroom, London
13th February 2026
Photography by Matt Wellham
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.
We head to Camden’s Electric Ballroom to catch Aussie four-piece Rum Jungle, following recent single ‘Coal Dust’
For me, there’s a handful of bands that have become ol’ reliables, artists that I find myself always turning to when curating new playlists, over and over again. Rum Jungle is one of those select few.
Over the past two years, I’ve seen them three times in London. Each time, the venues get a little (or a lot) bigger, the crowds get a bit more boisterous, but the tunes always remain ol’ reliables. Tonight, as the four-piece from Newcastle, Australia, stepped on stage at the Electric Ballroom, I knew we were in safe hands.
I’d bet Clapham felt pretty empty this evening, because London’s Australian population had poured into Camden, creating a roar of anticipation as lead singer Benny McIntyre cheered a warm “Hello Londoooooooon”.
Early tracks included ‘Don’t be A Stranger’ and ‘Electric Snowman’, the latter being a personal favourite from the band’s 2023 EP ‘Hold Me In The Water’.
This was soon followed by their recent single ‘Coal Dust’, a bittersweet look at the past and the places that shape you. The themes of the track have bled into Rum Jungle’s new sound, forming a more mature, slightly heavier version of their past selves. It’s a hit with the fans, who are already singing the lyrics back after only having a week to learn them.
Every Rum Jungle show I’ve seen has provided a different offering. Their Omeara show was a small, intimate affair, filled with their brilliant acoustic B-sides. The Village Underground show took elements of this, but amped up the high-energy tracks from their 2025 record ‘Recency Bias’. Tonight’s show elevated this to a whole other level. ‘Upbeat Lord’ and especially ‘Everything is Easy’ were a joy to watch from the balcony, as the crowd below reminded me of the swirling waves of the Aussie coastline, rising together as one big swell.
While they can smash the euphoric highs, they still have the intimacy. ‘Keep’ is a swooning, hazy track that focuses on the longing that love offers. Guitarist Josh Giles reels off smooth licks, as drummer Frazer McDonald and bassist Michael Kolmajer work effortlessly in unison to provide a tight, swaying rhythm.
The boys were having a blast on stage, grinning at each other in between verses and amping up the crowd with every chorus. They were paid for their efforts in spades by fans who screamed every single lyric back at them – ‘Pass You By’ could be in the running to replace their national anthem.
As I found myself walking out onto the cold streets of Camden, I chucked on one of my familiar playlists, to find Rum Jungle back in my ears. As I listened, I thought about how often I see artists who evolve over albums and EPs, and sometimes I have that guilty feeling of preferring their old sound. But with Rum Jungle, I’ve loved every step of their evolution.
Rum Jungle have taken the best moments of the past five years and tinkered them to create a live show that ebbs and flows effortlessly. Take a deep dive into their discography, buy tickets to the live shows and most importantly, make sure you check out their B-sides; they’ve got some of the best in the business.
Listen to Rum Jungle’s latest single ‘Coal Dust‘:
Photography by Matt Wellham