Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds made a surprise appearance on the roof of Brighton's legendary independent record shop, Resident Records, performing an impromptu set for crowds gathered below. Word quickly spread across the North Laine on Friday morning before Cave and the band took to the rooftop stage at 11am ahead of their headline performance at Preston Park.
The band opened their set with Train Long Suffering from The Firstborn Is Dead, marking the first time the track had been performed in Brighton since 1985 at The Escape Club. "Thank you. F***ing Brighton!" Nick Cave addressed the audience filling the streets. "What a thing to be doing."
The short set continued with a piano adaptation of T.Rex’s Cosmic Dancer, featuring a violin solo from Warren Ellis, followed by Murder Ballads duet Henry Lee alongside backing singer Janet Ramus. During the performance, Cave gave a shout-out to his wife Susie Cave and son Earl, who were watching from the edge of the balcony. The band concluded the impromptu appearance with an encore performance of Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry from Henry’s Dream.
"See you tonight! Thank you. Thank you, Resident records, for this - best fucking record shop in the world," Cave stated as the band exited the stage.
The rooftop performance forms part of a series of events across Brighton surrounding the band's sold-out, UK-exclusive headline show at Preston Park on Friday 31 July 2026, featuring support from The Flaming Lips, English Teacher, Cate Le Bon, and Warmduscher.
Resident Records is hosting a venue takeover from 30 July to 2 August 2026, featuring an exclusive merchandise pop-up, catalogue offers, and a post box for letters to The Red Hand Files. Additionally, Duke of York's Picturehouse is screening five films selected by Cave across the weekend, while visitors arriving at Brighton Station will hear specially recorded station announcements voiced by the frontman.
"I am thrilled beyond words to return to my beloved Brighton with The Bad Seeds to play Preston Park," Nick Cave added. "It’s a homecoming!"
