Words by Joanna Long
From Polish explorers to dirty basslines, from the not-so-quiet ache of internal reflection of many to anthems built for comradic arms-in-the-air, just in case it wasn’t already hot enough in Newcastle on a Wednesday night, Arkayla arrived ready to turn up the dial and make the room absolutely sweat. And what a reception they got.
Cluny 2 was packed to the rafters for the Manchester four-piece’s first headline show in the city, and from the moment they hit the stage, it was clear this crowd was ready and waiting. The buzz, anticipation and genuine dedication to this band were evident before they’d even stepped foot on the stage. The first three songs were sung back to the band note for note, surely an immense feeling for a band not in their hometown. And in a moment that felt genuinely joyful, there were more arms in the air than phones, something increasingly rare and all the more wonderful for it.
Cal, Finley, and Joe delivered outstanding vocals throughout, individually strong, collectively stunning, with harmonies that at times brought to mind The Beach Boys in some of their most raw and brilliant moments. Those qualities reached their peak during one or two tracks that hushed the room into a moment of quiet beauty, a perfectly timed pause, before splitting the silence open once again, straight into the next bouncing number. All the while, Dylan held everything together on drums; a relentless, propulsive energy when the room needed to bounce, and a soft, steady heartbeat when it needed to breathe.
Hardly a pause between bangers, the set moved with real confidence and intent. Anthems like ‘Waste of Time’, ‘Run Kid’, and ‘Doctor’, the latter closing the night to absolute scenes of frenzy, showed a band that knows precisely how to hold a crowd and how to leave them wanting more. Even the seated contingent couldn’t keep still.
The sonic DNA here is rich, with echoes of Two Door Cinema Club’s jangling urgency, Vampire Weekend’s wit and bounce, The Monkees’ melodic charm, but woven with something distinctly their own; a sound that already has the feel of something being claimed as only theirs.
Slick, joyful, and clearly having the time of their lives, Arkayla didn’t just break the seal in Newcastle, they made a very strong case for headlining City Hall next time around. Don’t miss them when they come back. And my goodness, they will be back; you’d better hold on to your hat…
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