The Night Café

Emerging from the longstanding tradition of Liverpool acts, the indie pop quartet the Night Café delivered a distinctive version of that city's sonic identity on their well-regarded first release, the 2017 EP Get Away from the Feeling. While attending high school, vocalist and guitarist Sean Martin, bassist Arran O'Connell-Whittle, guitarist Josh Higgins, and drummer Carl Dillon formed the band and connected through admiration for local icons such as the Coral and the Beatles. Their sound blended ringing, angular guitar patterns with memorable pop hooks, resulting in several early singles that included 2015's "Addicted" and 2016's "Together," followed by the debut EP Get Away from the Feeling. Appearances at T in the Park and opening slots alongside Sundara Karma helped introduce their music more broadly, after which they issued the EP Bunkbed in 2018. Recording for their debut full-length album began that same year. Collaboration with Robert Whiteley, whose credits include Clinic and Hot Club de Paris, at Whitewood Studio in Liverpool yielded 0151, which arrived late in 2019. The album fused the pop sensibilities drawn from the Night Café's influences with fluid guitar textures and introspective lyrics. Lead singer and guitarist Sean Martin died on November 6, 2023, after a brief illness at the age of 26.