Keston Cobblers’ Club

Saturday

There’s something simply unmistakable about Keston Cobblers Club. The Cobblers’ music isn’t just uplifting – it’s often a full-on celebration. Their live shows are joyous occasions with a genuine warmth that would convert even the hardest of hearts. These are serious musicians with serious skills. They have an enviable knack with cleverly catchy choruses and can dash off a euphoric anthem as easily as a haunting ballad that can move audiences to a spellbound silence. the band casually swap instruments between them in a way that would make Arcade Fire blush; trumpets, accordions, harmonicas and guitars all get passed around.

The BBC’s Steve Lamacq was the first to notice the band, declaring them ‘one of the best new discoveries I’ve made’ and inviting them to do a Maida Vale session for him. Dermot O’Leary and Bob Harris are among other BBC DJs who also quickly spotted the band and asked them to appear on their shows. Terrestrial TV programmes have used the Cobbler’s music, Burberry have done the same with their commercials and the band provided all the music for stand-up Ross Noble’s ‘Sit Down Tour’ film. Comedian and Radio 4 presenter Arthur Smith even incorporated a Cobblers’ song into his Edinburgh Fringe show last summer.