2nd April 2026 saw a triumphant return of Laura Jane Grace at the Craufurd Arms, with supports Black Talons and Bratakus.

Opening band Black Talons really gave a powerful performance, setting the vibe for the rest of the night. The hard core rock group had some great tracks that you could move to even if you were unfamiliar with them. They’re a band that catches your attention and makes you want to download their entire discography. It’s nice walking into a venue and hearing a genuine band that are fluently themselves, playing great music and enjoying themselves. They’d brought a decent crowd with them, who were enjoying their set with accompanied head bangs and bops.

We managed to catch up with frontman Rob Blay ahead of the show, discussing the band’s new record and the upcoming LJG tour.

1. How does it feel to be playing alongside Laura Jane Grace?

Cool! We’re all fans of Against Me!, so to be asked to open for Laura Jane Grace is a bit of an honour really. She’s someone we’ve listened to for years, so getting to share a bill with her is pretty surreal. It definitely makes you want to step things up and make sure you bring your best.

2. For those that might not be familiar with Black Talons, how would you describe the band? Where do you draw inspiration, and what got you all into playing music?

We all got into music pretty young really we used to spend most of ours youth at the Pitz getting hooked on live bands early on. Once you get that bug, that’s kind of it, you just spend the rest of your life chasing it really. And wasting loads of money on gear, takeaways, and terrible hairstyles along the way.

Sound-wise, we sit somewhere between ‘90s alternative rock, post-hardcore, punk and grunge, with a bit of 2000s emo in there as well. We’ve all played in different bands over the years, done loads of shows, travelled around a bit, and learned plenty the hard way.

3. So talk us through some of the inspiration behind “Choking on Butterflies”, your new record.

“Choking on Butterflies” is a bit of a different one for us. It leans a bit more into the emo and alternative rock side of what we do, compared to some of the grungier, more riff-heavy stuff. Lyrically, it came from feelings of imposter syndrome, social anxiety, and that kind of urge to just disappear when you feel awkward in yourself or uncomfortable in a room full of people. It’s basically about being stuck in your own head, and for me that’s usually the loudest place to be.

4. You guys have been doing a few other shows recently, which has been really great to see. How has the rest of the tour been?

The response has been really good, its been loads of fun, and it’s reminded us why we started doing this in the first place. We’ve genuinely missed playing live, so it’s been nice to get back out there and prove to ourselves we can still do it without one of us falling over. We’re just looking forward to doing more this year and pushing things a bit further as the record comes together.

5. It’s been great catching up with you. Ending on a cheesy note, where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Honestly, if we’re still doing this in five years, that would be a blessing. The reality right now is that it’s a tough time for grassroots venues and touring artists, and it feels like live music is constantly having to fight for survival. It would be amazing to see a government that actually values and supports the arts properly. We just hope that grassroots rock keeps pushing through. There are some great acts in the UK right now.

Later on, powerhouse Laura Jane Grace came out to cheers from the packed out room, as she Laura Jane GRACED the stage at the Craufurd Arms. Whistle at the ready, she opened with “WWIII Revisited” - a track from her album Adventure Club. The room really matched her energy from the get-go, and people were singing along with the Against Me! star.

Other songs included “Walls”, “New Years Day”, and Against Me! track “Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%”.

“This is a deep cut” she states, before going into “New Years Day”. After a rapid fire start, she takes a moment to talk to her adoring fans - some holding signs with references to songs or jokes.
One fan erupted to profess his undying love for the singer, who laughed.
“You don’t even know me. If you did you wouldn’t love me.” LJG replied, laughing. “Actually, fuck it. Let’s get married.”

A few more cheers, and the band returned to their set. The split of LJG songs and Against Me! tracks was very well received, and really allowed fans from all parts of the artist’s career to have their moment. It was high energy all the way through, even during the hard hitting songs.

Laura Jane Grace really blew the night out of the water, with an incredible return to touring - and the Craufurd Arms. The room was packed out, cheering, and set the night up with a great rock n roll atmosphere. The set was strong, there was an element of humour, and it was nice to see frontwoman LJG enjoy their time as much as the fans.

Reviewed by: Courtney Wallace

Score: 9/10

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