Brighton’s Chalk hosted two of the UK’s most inventive acts: Mercury Prize winners English Teacher, fusing art‑rock intensity with poetic lyricism, and The Orielles, blending indie rock with disco grooves and cosmic textures. Together they brought sonic brightness to a dimly lit Chalk stage, balancing invention with emotion and showcasing confident evolution.
Words: Peter Greenfield. Pictures: Sara-Louise Bowrey
English Teacher
Headliners English Teacher opened with ‘This Could Be Texas’, its cello adding a haunting lift before clipped keys and guitars drove the song forward, alternating between hushed intimacy and bursts of noise. Lily Fontaine’s vocals soared, her presence commanding as she moved across the stage. By ‘R&B’, the energy had shifted up a gear to chaotic, fast, and playful, with Lily sliding her hand along her guitar neck to coax sound. As ever, familiar songs were reshaped and re‑energised for the live setting.
‘Broken Biscuits’ leaned into spoken‑word storytelling, and was an example of how everyday details are turned poetic through Lily’s wordplay. ‘Albatross’ followed with reflective vocals and cello‑led melancholy, before two unreleased tracks: ‘Toothpick’, dreamlike and tender, and ‘Billboards’, carried by a catchy groove that had Lily dancing. Returning to album material, ‘Mastermind Specialism’ struck a serious tone, while ‘Blister My Paint’ grew darker, synths and vocals heightening the drama. Lily’s precision in holding long notes was breathtaking.
Momentum built through ‘The Best Tears of Your Life’ and ‘I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying’, before ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ drew the night’s biggest cheer, Nicholas Eden’s bassline driving Lily’s emotional sometimes angry vocals. The set closed with ‘Nearly Daffodils’ and ‘Albert Road’. The former was the most up-tempo tune of the evening, getting more people in the crowd dancing. The latter unfolded with magnificent subtlety, Lily’s voice guiding its slow build to a stunning climax. Her final sustained note was nothing short of extraordinary.
An encore of two older tracks from the ‘Polyawkward’ EP sealed the night, reminding fans of the band’s roots while underlining their evolution. Clever lyrics, inventive reworkings, and Lily’s commanding and varied vocals made this performance another glorious showcase of English Teacher’s artistry.
The Orielles
With their fourth album ‘Only You Left’ due in March 2026, The Orielles’ opening set at Chalk showcased a band in confident evolution. Darkness and backlit atmospherics framed ‘Beam/s’, Esmé Dee Hand-Halford’s hushed vocals rising over synths before drums and guitar burst through. ‘Wasp’ pulsed with clipped guitars and strong drumming, while ‘Tears Are’ highlighted Esmé’s seductive whispers shifting into soaring clarity. This was to be a key feature across The Orielles’ set. ‘Embers’ carried haunting beauty, and ‘Shadow of You Appears’ under crimson light blended pop sweetness with alt‑rock edge.
The set wasn’t all new material. ‘The Room’, from their ‘Tableau’ album, sparked immediate recognition with its funkier groove, Esmé’s whispered opening line drawing the crowd in while Henry Carlyle Wade’s animated guitar contrasted her calmer presence. Closing with their recent single ‘Three Halves’, with its expensive intro. Esmé’s vocals alternated between melodic sweetness and matter of fact whispers, building tension before fading back into reflection.
Throughout, synths added atmosphere and experimental edge, while Sidonie B Hand-Halford’s strong drumming underpinned every shift in pace and tone. The Orielles’ performance was a mature, irresistible preview of their next chapter.
English Teacher and The Orielles brought sonic brightness to a dimly lit Chalk stage. Together, they delivered a night that shifted from genre‑bending soundscapes to sharp lyrical storytelling. Both bands showcased their evolution, with captivating vocals, inventive arrangements and a confidence that shone through.
English Teacher:
Lily Fontaine – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboard
Lewis Whiting – lead guitar
Nicholas Eden – bass
Douglas Frost – drums and keyboard
Blossom Calderone – keyboard and cello
The Orielles:
Henry Carlyle Wade – guitar, synth, vocals
Esmé Dee Hand-Halford – lead vocals, bass
Sidonie B Hand-Halford – drums
