There’s a double helping of British indie rock at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion tonight, with Manchester veterans James returning to Australia for the first time since 2018, joined by Razorlight, who are making their own comeback Down Under after more than 15 years.

Razorlight are first up, celebrating 20 years since their five-times platinum self-titled album helped turn them into one of Britain’s biggest indie bands. Frontman Johnny Borrell remains an eye-catching presence, gyrating across the stage with the swagger that made him such a recognisable figure during the mid-2000s indie explosion.

Formed in London in 2002, Razorlight rode the wave of guitar bands that dominated British music during the decade, collecting platinum records, chart success and an NME Award along the way. Their 2006 single America remains their biggest commercial triumph, reaching number one in the UK. Tonight, Borrell’s restless stage presence is a reminder that Razorlight were never a band content to stand politely behind their instruments.

Few bands have navigated the changing landscape of British alternative music quite like James. Formed in Manchester in 1982, they emerge from the same independent music scene that produced The Smiths, whom they once supported. But James have always been difficult to categorise, moving between alternative rock, dance-influenced rhythms and expansive pop without surrendering their identity.

Frontman Tim Booth remains the band’s unpredictable centre of gravity. He twists, gyrates and throws himself into the performance with endless energy. The band are here to revisit their landmark 1993 album Laid, alongside a career-spanning selection of hits and deep cuts, but this is no rigid exercise in recreating the past.

The stage is a hive of activity, with musicians constantly swapping instruments and moving between roles. Booth and bassist Jim Glennie are the only two members to have appeared on every James album. It’s Glennie’s birthday today and the Hordern erupts into a rowdy rendition of Happy Birthday, a fitting tribute to the musician who has been with James since the very beginning. 

The band’s current line-up is a mix of longstanding collaborators and more recent arrivals. Adrian Oxaal handles lead guitar, Saul Davies moves between violin and guitar, Mark Hunter is on keys and David Baynton-Power anchors proceedings on drums. Chloe Alper and Debbie Knox-Hewson bring additional vocals and instrumentation, while Andy Diagram’s trumpet adds another distinctive dimension to the band’s already expansive sound. It’s this fluid approach to instrumentation that makes James such a compelling live proposition. Rather than simply reproducing their recordings, the musicians continually reshape the arrangements, with guitars, violin, trumpet and keyboards moving in and out of the foreground. At one stage Booth ventures deep into the audience, making an extraordinary loop of the Hordern as fans crowd around him, singing along at close quarters.

The group’s career is an extraordinary one. Albums including Seven and Laid established James as one of Britain’s defining alternative rock acts, while songs such as Sit Down, Come Home, She’s a Star and Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) became enduring favourites. James’s eighteenth studio album, Yummy, arrived in 2024 and was the band’s first number-one studio album in the UK. It’s an achievement that says plenty about James’ ability to remain relevant without chasing trends.

James have survived four decades by refusing to stand still, and tonight makes it clear they have no intention of starting now.

The tour moves to Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland next, tickets HERE.

Images Deb Pelser

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