31 August 2026 (gig)
16 h
The Bank Holiday weekend delivered a milestone moment for fans of alternative Welsh rock, as key surviving members of The Alarm convened in Highbury for a retrospective showcase. Spanning three distinct sets, the evening mapped the legacy of a group whose driving acoustic-electric anthems helped define UK guitar music across the 1980s.
Opening the proceedings was The Alarm 2.0, a line-up fronted by founding bassist and co-songwriter Eddie Macdonald. Joined by guitarist James Stevenson and drummer Steve “Smiley” Barnard, the group delivered a tight, punchy opening set that leaned heavily on the driving rhythm section that originally elevated their early catalogue. Macdonald took on lead vocal duties with understated authority, steering the band through early post-punk cuts and classic album tracks, setting an energetic tone for the evening.
Following a brief transition, co-founding guitarist Dave Sharp took the stage alongside his backing band, The Hard Travellers. Sharp’s segment shifted the musical landscape toward a mix of blues-infused roots rock and Americana, showcasing material from his forthcoming solo release alongside reworked blues traditionals. His distinctive, folk-influenced guitar picking and gravelly vocal delivery still hit the sweet spot.
The main event brought the headline set from The Alarm REUNION, marking a rare joint appearance by founding members Macdonald, Sharp, and drummer Nigel Twist. With the group reuniting on stage for the first time in decades following their 1991 split at Brixton Academy, vocal duties were entrusted to guest singer Robert Latimer, frontman of Coventry indie outfit Candid. Latimer approached the material with noticeable care, adopting a straightforward performance style that respected the source material while avoiding direct mimicry.
The setlist drew heavily from the band's foundational period between 1981 and 1989. The opening track was "Newtown Jericho", with "The Deceiver" maintaining an urgent post-punk tempo, underpinned by Twist’s steady drumming and Sharp’s trademark riffs. Fan favourites such as "Sixty Eight Guns" and "Rain in the Summertime" generated expected enthusiasm, but it was "Spirit of '76" that provided the set's musical peak with the audience in full voice throughout.
Ending with "Rockin' In The Free World," the reunion performance served as a focused, disciplined retrospective of an influential repertoire. Rather than relying on simple nostalgia, the four-piece delivered a tight, well-rehearsed set that highlighted the strength of the original compositions. I hope it signals the first of many.
