Republica – up close and personal in Brighton (review)

Some songs become part of the soundtrack to an entire generation. For Republica, Ready To Go is undoubtedly one of them. Thirty years after its release, that unmistakable combination of pounding beats, driving guitars and Saffron’s distinctive vocals remain as instantly recognisable as ever.

Emerging in the mid-1990s, when Britpop was dominating the British music scene, Republica offered something a little different. Their infectious blend of alternative rock, electronica and punk attitude helped them carve out their own identity, with Ready To Go and Drop Dead Gorgeous becoming enduring anthems of the decade. The last time I saw them perform was around the peak of their fame as part of the then Southern FMs ‘Party in The Park’ in 1997 at Preston Park where it barely stopped raining heavily all day, their appearance making the crowd forget how soaked-through we all were.

Fast-forward to 2026, and Saffron is back on the road with a new line-up for their 30 Years of Ready To Go! tour, celebrating three decades since the release of their self-titled debut album. Friday night’s stop brought them to Brighton’s DUST, an intimate setting for a band whose biggest songs were built to fill considerably larger spaces.

At the centre of it all, of course, was Saffron Sprackling. Three decades may have passed since Republica’s commercial breakthrough, but her vocals remain powerful, cutting through the instrumentation with the same unmistakable attitude that made her such a compelling frontwoman in the first place.

Equally entertaining was her rapport with the audience. Clearly enjoying herself and a beer or two on stage, Saffron was funny, engaging and wonderfully unfiltered throughout, frequently punctuating proceedings to share memories and anecdotes. There was an appealing unpredictability about her between-song banter, but far from detracting from the performance, it simply added to the evening’s charm.

Brighton evidently holds a special place in her heart. Amongst other things, she reminisced about her adolescent years and nights at the legendary Subterfuge club. These recollections gave the evening a genuinely personal feel, with Saffron clearly delighted to be performing in familiar territory and referencing friends in attendance.

There was plenty of self-deprecating humour, too. On several occasions she joked about needing her glasses, telling the audience she couldn’t see them but knew they were there.

The inclusion of the more recent New York was also welcome, showing that Republica’s musical story hasn’t been confined to the 1990s.

Throughout the set, the songs sounded superb. The band’s musicianship was exceptional, and Saffron’s vocals retained their power and character. The band gave a freshness and vitality to the performances that made even the most familiar material sound exciting.

Naturally, the biggest moment was saved for the finale. Ready To Go remains an absolute powerhouse of a song, its instantly recognisable opening and infectious chorus providing a fitting conclusion to the performance.

If there was one minor disappointment, it was the length of the set. Three songs appearing on the printed setlist visible on the stage floor were left unplayed, leaving us with nine numbers rather than the originally planned twelve. The reason wasn’t clear, but given the quality of what we had witnessed, it had certainly left me wanting more.

The evening ended on a particularly warm note, with the band joining the audience for a group selfie, a fitting conclusion to a show that had felt celebratory and surprisingly personal.

Thirty years after their breakthrough, Republica remains a formidable live proposition. Saffron’s personality, humour and vocal power are as compelling as ever, while the musicians surrounding her have brought fresh energy to a collection of songs that continue to sound remarkably vibrant.