By Ebony Jade
Outstanding punk band Critch took to the stage at The Grove in Newcastle on 12th December as their last gig of 2025, supporting Newcastle bands Ten Eighty Trees and Burnout.
Ten Eighty Trees kicked off with a boisterous start to an intense night, setting a high standard that the other bands unquestionably met.
Critch was next, and quick to the stage, immediately psyching up the crowd for their electrifying performance, which held the room spellbound. From the energetic and confrontational vocals, to the insane guitar solos to the exceptional drums, and you can’t forget the clean bass lines, it’s safe to say James Critchlow knows what he’s doing and how to lead a band to success.
Critch engages the audience with their catchy lyrics, especially in Punk Floyd, a personal favourite of mine. The sharp repetitive lyrics, which he encourages the audience to shout back, create a charged atmosphere at any gig. The volume they achieve during “It’s all BS,” undoubtedly gets louder and more impressive every time I see it live.
Headliner, Burnout, closed out the show with both covers and originals — a good ending to an even better gig.
Critch’s last gig of 2025 went out with a bang. You know, and I know, it’s only going to get better from here. This incredible alt-punk band already has a handful of gigs lined up for 2026: they’re back in Newcastle at The Cluny on January 15, home on January 30 at Independent, London at The Castle on March 20, and Brighton at Grove Theatre on May 1st, and their EP No Ball Games is ready to stream on any listening platform.
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