BRITs Week 2025 continued its run of exclusive, intimate gigs with a riotous performance from SOFT PLAY at Village Underground.
The Kent duo - Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent - took to the stage with their signature mix of brutal energy and sharp social commentary, delivering an unforgettable night of punk-fuelled mayhem in support of War Child.
Before the chaos kicked off, a War Child representative took a moment to remind the packed venue why they were there. The organisation has raised over £7.4 million since BRITs Week began in 2009, providing vital support for children affected by war. As the crowd listened, the weight of the cause was clear. Then, it was time for the music.
As SOFT PLAY took to the stage, ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ rang through the venue - an ironic contrast to the carnage about to unfold. They launched into the title track from Heavy Jelly, their 2024 comeback album, setting the crowd alight from the first note.
Isaac was quick to ditch his shirt as the band fired into ‘Mirror Muscles’, a sharp, biting take on toxic masculinity, before Laurie followed suit. The stripped-down duo held nothing back, blending breakneck riffs with brutal honesty.
Between tracks, they took time to acknowledge their history with the venue. “First year we played in London, we used to drive up here, get parking tickets, and play the Old Blue Last,” Laurie joked before tearing into ‘Act Violently’ - a reminder of their early days of chaos.
They weren’t shy about their critics either. ‘Fuck the Hi-Hat’ was a direct shot at those who questioned their setup when they first started. “We’ve got a response to those ignorant people,” Isaac shouted before hammering into the song with unrelenting force.
Heavy Jelly marked their return after years of upheaval. Between Isaac’s mental health struggles in 2019 and Laurie losing his wife to cancer in 2020, SOFT PLAY went on an extended hiatus. In 2022, they re-emerged with a new name and a fresh sense of purpose. Their first live show back in 2023 was a homecoming in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Now, standing in a packed East London venue, they were fully in their element again.
They threw themselves into ‘Bin Juice Disaster’ and the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it chaos of ‘Girl Fight’, proving they hadn’t lost an ounce of the raw power that made them a breakout act. Then came ‘Punk’s Dead’, a direct response to online hate about their name change. The lyrics - “Come and get a load of these PC babies” - were spat with venom, showing that, despite the name shift, their attitude hadn’t softened.
It wasn’t just an onslaught of aggression. ‘Everything And Nothing’ was a deeply emotional moment, tackling grief head-on with Isaac’s voice cutting through the noise. But before things got too heavy, they pulled the crowd right back into the chaos.
Laurie jumped into the pit, still shredding, while Isaac hurled himself over the barricade. By the time they hit ‘The Hunter’, their 2015 anthem, the room was an explosion of movement. A set full of relentless, cathartic energy closed with a wave of sweat, ringing ears, and an audience fully exhausted but elated.
Beyond the music, the night was a reminder of what BRITs Week for War Child is all about - music with meaning. War Child’s work remains essential, and this series of shows brings together artists who care. This year’s lineup has already included Joy Crookes, Rachel Chinouriri, Tom Walker, and Kasabian, all playing small venues to raise money for a massive cause.
SOFT PLAY might have changed their name, but their fire is still there. If anything, they’ve got even more to say, they proved exactly why they’re still one of the most exciting live bands in the UK.
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