In a moment of pure rock and roll spontaneity, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds delivered a Nick Cave Brighton surprise earlier today, July 31, by performing an unannounced pop-up gig on the roof of Resident Records. The performance served as a high-energy prelude to the band’s highly anticipated homecoming headline show at Preston Park later this evening.
Addressing the crowd gathered in Brighton’s North Lane, Cave expressed his enthusiasm for the unique setting. “Fucking Brighton! What a thing to be doing. Can you all see?” he remarked, greeting the sea of fans who had quickly assembled below the record store’s roof to witness the rare acoustic-leaning session.
The brief but potent four-song set opened with “Train Long-Suffering,” followed by a poignant rendition of T. Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer.” The band continued to tease the audience, with Cave noting they only had a few selections prepared before launching into the PJ Harvey duet “Henry Lee.” For this performance, backing singer Janet Ramus stepped into Harvey’s role, delivering a powerful vocal contribution that resonated across the North Lane district.
The rooftop session concluded with “Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry,” a performance Cave dedicated to his wife, Suzie, who was watching the show from the crowd. “See you tonight!” Cave shouted to the fans as the band wrapped up the surprise appearance, signaling their readiness for the larger stage.
The main event at Preston Park is set to be a significant milestone for the band, featuring a robust lineup of support acts including The Flaming Lips, English Teacher, Cate Le Bon, and Warmduscher. This evening’s performance marks a major homecoming for the group, following a period of intense global touring.