ENGLISH TEACHER + THE ORIELLES – CHALK, BRIGHTON 24.11.25
Brighton’s Chalk welcomed a standout bill of two of the UK’s most inventive bands courtesy of JOY. promoters. Headliners Mercury Prize winning English Teacher, who combine art rock with poetic lyricism with immersive intensity, and The Orielles, known for their kaleidoscopic blend of indie rock, disco grooves, and cosmic textures.
Stepping onto a darkened Chalk stage, English Teacher immediately set the tone for a set of inventive, emotionally charged performance. The Leeds‑based quartet of Lily Fontaine (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Nicholas Eden (bass), Douglas Frost (drums, keyboards) and Lewis Whiting (guitar), were joined by Blossom Calderone on cello and keyboard which added depth to the band’s sound.
Opening with ‘This Could Be Texas’, the cello gave the song a haunting lift before clipped keys and guitars drove it forward, alternating between hushed intimacy and bursts of noise. Lily’s vocals soared, and her presence was commanding as she wandered the stage. By the time the band launched into ‘R&B’, the energy had shifted up a gear being chaotic, fast, and playful, with Lily sliding her hand along the neck of her guitar to play it. As is typical of English Teacher, familiar songs were reshaped, and re-energised for their live shows.
On ‘Broken Biscuits’, where Lily leaned into spoken‑word storytelling, everyday details became poetry with her clever wordplay. ‘Albatross’ followed with reflective vocals and cello‑led melancholy, before the band unveiled two unreleased tracks. ‘Toothpick’ began dreamlike, just Lily’s voice and keyboard, before blossoming into a sweet melody, while ‘Billboards’ carried a catchy groove that had Lily dancing along.
Returning to material from their album, ‘Mastermind Specialism’ struck a serious, spoken‑word tone, while ‘Blister My Paint’ grew darker and more sinister, with synths and the vocals heightening the drama. Lily’s ability to hold long notes with precision was breathtaking. ‘Sideboob’ felt cinematic, blending sung and spoken passages, while ‘Not Everybody Gets To Go To Space’ showcased the band’s knack for flipping arrangements mid‑song, keeping the audience on edge.
Momentum built through ‘The Best Tears Of Your Life’ and ‘I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying’, the latter ramping up tempo and intensity with alt‑rock urgency. Then came ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’. Nicholas’s distinctive bassline set the pace, while Lily’s vocals carried raw emotion and anger in the lines “No one ever looks down at the ground / Yeah, no one ever notices me.” The crowd roared in response, the biggest cheer of the night.
The set closed with ‘Nearly Daffodils’ and ‘Albert Road’. The former was the most up-tempo tune of the evening, getting more people in the crowd dancing. The latter unfolded with magnificent subtlety, Lily’s voice guiding its slow build to a stunning climax. Her final sustained note was nothing short of extraordinary, being one of the finest vocal moments I’ve heard this year.
An encore of two older tracks from the ‘Polyawkward’ EP sealed the night, reminding fans of the band’s roots while underlining their evolution. Clever lyrics, inventive reworkings, and Lily’s commanding and range of vocals made this performance another glorious showcase of English Teacher’s artistry. It was proof of their ability to transform everyday topics into something profound, poetic, and unforgettable both lyrically and musically.
English Teacher:
Lily Fontaine – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboard
Lewis Whiting – lead guitar
Nicholas Eden – bass
Douglas Frost – drums and keyboard
Blossom Calderone – keyboard and cello
English Teacher setlist:
‘This Could Be Texas’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘R&B’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘Mental Maths’ (from 2022 ‘Polyawkward’ EP)
‘Broken Biscuits’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘Albatross’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘Toothpick’ (unreleased)
‘Billboards’ (unreleased)
‘Mastermind Specialism’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘You Blister My Paint’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘Sideboob’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘Not Everybody Gets To Go To Space’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘The Best Tears Of Your Life’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘Nearly Daffodils’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
‘Albert Road’ (from 2024 ‘This Could Be Texas’ album)
(encore)
‘Polyawkward’ (from 2022 ‘Polyawkward’ EP)
‘A55’ (from 2022 ‘Polyawkward’ EP)
With their fourth studio album ‘Only You Left’ due in March 2026, The Orielles’ opening set at Chalk was a striking showcase of their evolution. The Manchester-based trio of Henry Carlyle Wade (guitar, synth, vocals), Esmé Dee Hand Halford (lead vocals, bass) and Sidonie B Hand Halford (drums) unveiled a performance rich in new material. It signalled a more mature direction, with song led structures layered over the indie dance energy and experimentation that has long defined them.
The stage was bathed in darkness, backlit to dramatic effect, as an atmospheric instrumental introduced ‘Beam/s’. Esmé’s soft vocals rose over oscillating synths before drums and guitar burst through, the pace shifting restlessly into funky grooves. Henry introduced ‘Wasp’; with a wry “about a wasp,” but the clipped guitars and strong drumming gave it a sharp dance pulse. ‘Tears Are’ followed with heavier textures, Esmé’s whispered vocals captivating in their intimacy before rising into melodic clarity. Her ability to move between hushed seduction and soaring emotion was one of the set’s defining features.
‘Embers’ brought a mellower mood, Esmé’s basslines grounding the song while her vocals carried haunting beauty against starker guitars and drums. It closed with a rockier bite. Then came ‘Shadow Of You Appears’, introduced under crimson lighting, reflective and pop leaning yet expanded by alt rock instrumentals, another development from earlier Orielles sounds.
The set wasn’t all new material. ‘The Room’, from ‘Tableau’, shifted into funkier territory, its drum and synth intro sparking immediate recognition. Esmé’s whispered opening line drew the crowd in, while Henry’s animated guitar contrasted with her calmer presence. The interplay between energetic guitar and danceable bass gave the song its spark, and the audience responded by moving more freely.
Closing with their recent single ‘Three Halves’, released in October, The Orielles delivered a big, expansive intro flowing into up-tempo rhythms. Esmé’s vocals alternated between melodic sweetness and matter of fact whispers, building tension before fading back into reflection.
Throughout, synths added atmosphere and experimental edge, while Sidonie’s strong drumming underpinned every shift in pace and tone. What emerged was a portrait of a band in evolution; still playful and danceable, but willing to explore new textures. With their ‘Only You Left’ album looming, The Orielles’ performance felt like a confident preview of their next chapter: inventive, mature, and irresistible.
The Orielles:
Henry Carlyle Wade – guitar, synth, vocals
Esmé Dee Hand-Halford – lead vocals, bass
Sidonie B Hand-Halford – drums
The Orielles setlist:
‘Beam/s’ (from 2022 ‘Tableau’ album)
‘Wasp’ (unreleased)
‘Tears Are’ (unreleased)
‘Embers’ (unreleased)
‘Shadow Of You Appears’ (unreleased)
‘The Room’ (from 2022 ‘Tableau’ album)
‘Three Halves’ (a 2025 single)
drop.cobrand.com/d/TheOrielles
Summing Up:
English Teacher and The Orielles brought sonic brightness to a dimly lit Chalk stage. Together, they delivered a night that balanced invention with emotion. It shifted from genre‑bending soundscapes to sharp lyrical storytelling. Both bands showcased their evolution, with captivating vocals, inventive arrangements and a confidence that shone through. It was an evening that stood out as one of my musical highlights of 2025.
