The Maccabees Make Triumphant Live Return with Intimate London Charity Show

The Maccabees thrilled fans with their live return at a cozy London charity gig, marking their first public performance in eight years.

The Maccabees Return to the Stage for a Heartfelt Cause

After an eight-year hiatus, The Maccabees finally reunited live on June 20th for an intimate charity concert in London. The indie rock band, which originally disbanded in 2017, performed at The Dome in Tufnell Park, a venue with a modest 500-person capacity, making the night even more special for devoted fans. This gig was the first of several warm-up shows across Europe, gearing up to their highly anticipated headline slot at Glastonbury Festival scheduled for the following weekend.

The Maccabees electrified the crowd at The Dome, London

A Nostalgic Setlist That Celebrated Their Musical Journey

Opening with ‘Latchmere’ and ‘Lego’ from their 2007 debut album Colour It In, guitarist Felix White energized the crowd, proudly announcing, “We’re the fucking Maccabees!” Throughout the night, White kept the audience hyped, encouraging them to sing loudly during tracks like ‘Precious Time’ and applauding bandmates drummer Sam Doyle, bassist Rupert Jarvis, guitarist Hugo White, and frontman Orlando Weeks.

The band's setlist was a deep dive into their four-album catalog, featuring standout tracks such as:

• ‘Wall Of Arms’ (title track from their second album)
• ‘Spit It Out’ and ‘Silence’ (from their final 2015 album Marks To Prove It)

During ‘Silence,’ guitarist Hugo White took center stage for lead vocals, earning an enthusiastic crowd chant of “Hugo! Hugo!” The main set closed on a high note with ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ and ‘Something Like Happiness,’ the former featuring a new heartfelt verse by Weeks:

“You’re no longer mine, but this song never changed with time.” — Orlando Weeks

The Maccabees rock The Dome in London

Music with a Purpose: Supporting the MS Society

The concert wasn’t just about the music; it was a powerful moment to support a noble cause. Felix White reminded the crowd:

“By buying this ticket, you’re supporting the MS Society, and they’re getting closer to stopping MS [multiple sclerosis].”

The event’s proceeds went to the MS Society’s Stop MS Appeal, which is ambitiously targeting £100 million (approximately $120 million USD) to fund life-changing research for multiple sclerosis. The Maccabees have had a long-standing relationship with the charity, becoming ambassadors in 2016. Fans inspired by the cause can still contribute directly to the Stop MS Appeal here.

Encore and Fan-Favorite Moments

After the main set, the band returned for a three-song encore featuring fan favorites ‘Feel To Follow,’ ‘Love You Better,’ and ‘Pelican.’ Felix White’s rallying call to the fans before the closing track was simple yet powerful:

“If you know it, fucking sing it.”

Complete Setlist From The Night

1. Latchmere
2. Lego
3. X-Ray
4. Wall Of Arms
5. Kamakura
6. First Love
7. Precious Time
8. Can You Give It
9. Spit It Out
10. Silence
11. Marks To Prove It
12. No Kind Words
13. Grew Up At Midnight
14. Toothpaste Kisses
15. Something Like Happiness
16. Feel To Follow
17. Love You Better
18. Pelican

A Look Ahead: Upcoming Shows and Festival Appearances

The band is not just stopping at this charity gig. They have curated the lineup for their upcoming All Points East festival headline, featuring notable acts like Bombay Bicycle Club, The Cribs, Dry Cleaning, Nilüfer Yanya, The Murder Capital, Divorce, and Prima Queen. Tickets for the festival are still available for those eager to catch The Maccabees live again.

Earlier this year in January, the band shared glimpses of their reunion rehearsals, with Felix White reflecting on how playing together felt seamless:

“It’s so strange. In the chunk [of time] from the last show, you could conceive of The Maccabees as a different existence, but as soon as we started playing, it was as if we hadn’t stopped.”

While there’s no confirmed new music yet, the band is open to possibilities, with Felix stating the plan is to enjoy the upcoming gigs and “see how much we love it.” Drummer Sam Doyle added humorously, “We might hate each other by August.”

Fans can also look forward to their Glastonbury headline performance on June 29th, followed by a series of UK underplay gigs in August. Tickets and additional info can be found on official ticket platforms.

FAQs About The Maccabees' Return

• What was the purpose of The Maccabees' recent charity gig?
  The concert supported the MS Society’s Stop MS Appeal to fund research into multiple sclerosis.
• Where did The Maccabees perform their comeback gig?
  They played at The Dome in Tufnell Park, London, an intimate venue hosting around 500 attendees.
• What albums did The Maccabees’ setlist feature songs from?
  The setlist included songs from their four albums, notably Colour It In, Wall Of Arms, and Marks To Prove It.
• Are The Maccabees planning to release new music?
  While no new music has been announced, the band is focused on their reunion shows and will see how things develop.
• When and where is The Maccabees' next big festival appearance?
  They are set to headline The Park stage at Glastonbury Festival on June 29th.

Ready to keep the vibe going? Shop your favorite album cover posters and celebrate The Maccabees’ music at our store here.