Beans On Toast Band – Band On The Wall, Manchester: – 14th March 2026

ALWAYS TRY TO SEE THE SUPPORT

Famed for his songs of irreverent observations amongst others, the public transport comedy of errors on the (what is normally very straightforward) route to the Band On The Wall, would have made for a perfect BoT subject. Our ‘always see the support band’ MO is scuppered, but we know Ruth Lyon well in her solo and Holy Moly guises and sure her opening set is brill packed with pleasing single word titled songs and her Wickerman single from around this time-ish last year. And after her little mishap onstage this week, hope she’s in recovery. No signs as she joins the BoTBand for the main set…

ENGLISH FOLK HERO

Billed on the BOTW website as ‘English Folk Hero’, Beans is the master of the art of what his pal Frank Turner might call ‘folk songs for the modern age’. His eighteen (!) album legacy might in time be viewed as an alternate hsitory of the UK and beyond. From wars to petty annoyances to touching tributes and lessons in hope and optimism – maybe he’s mellowing with age and family? – maybe a Beans discography buried in a time capsule for future generations of earth dwellers might not seem such a daft idea. Could even be the start of a new song…

Meanwhile, the newest record, Kill Them With Kindness earns the bulk of the set – we even get a ‘Kindness’ opening flurry – and with such a broad and balanced catalogue that comes in the form of annual/birthday December missives, the emotional swings come thick and fast. As the band is quickly into its stride and Pelican Crossing sees the “meat without the animals, booze without the alcohol, sex without connection” kicking off a wonderful stream of conscious ranting, seat belts are buckled and we’re off.

Used to the laconic Essex drawl with the minimal of musical support, it takes a breath or two to get used to the new Beans with a band. They’re worth their salt, turning out rock and roll jives, doing the subtle country shuffle on The Glastonbury Oak and going a bit fingerpickin’ bluegrassy on A Big Night Out In Shrewsbury.

SILVER LININGS

The journey balances the humorous and off kilter with more reflective offerings given a more sensitive musical coating. Myths And Legends almost feels like a hymn and when it comes to touching and sentimental, Send Me A Bird always does the trick. The latter rounds off what you might call the sensitive sequence in the set as we get shaken back to life with …Shrewsbury. yes, there may be a large dose of craziness in the world, the current climate being in a particularly (un)healthy state, but there’s always hope and faith. Heading back to the early days for the stock in trade of a bouncy rustic rhythm and tales of Latvian festival and cultural adventures, Life is a reminder that the musical chronicler of watching the world go by is in a good place.

Current fave BoT track here:

Beans On Toast: Website

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