HAWXX w/ THWACK! @ Signature Brew Haggerston, London - 29.10.26
HAWXX at Signature Brew Haggerston: Punk, Palestine and a Fight for Liberation
Most people go to gigs to forget the outside world for a couple of hours, enjoy their time and disassociate from the woes of the society we live in. Yet, there are some shows that remind you why forgetting is not always an option, and HAWXX’s show at the Signature Brew in Haggestron was exactly one of those. With THWACK! joining the bill, the evening brought together two bands who understand that punk is not simply a sound, but a way of refusing to accept the world as it is and building something better in its place.
HAWXX have been carving out their space in the DIY scene since 2019, bringing together progressive metal, punk energy and unapologetically political songwriting. Their debut album “Earth, Spit, Blood and Bones” established their voice against patriarchal violence, ecological destruction and the systems that marginalise women and queer people. Their second album “The Wolrd Splits Open” continues that work with songs shape by rage, angst, grief, solidarity and the possibility of collective resistance. Being at the Signature Brew felt more like the start of a revolution that an underground gig and honestly, we were absolutely here for it. With HAWXX, music exists to bring politics into the forefront, where women and queer people can be at the front rather than be left at the margins. Further, as HAWXX have spoken openly in support of Palestinian liberation and against the criminalisation of protest, they have managed to place their music at the forefront of solidarity and to treating freedom as a non-negotiable. This is exactly what the night was all about.
THWACK! were a very fitting addition to the bill. Formed in London in 2022, the queer orchestral punk outfit combine guitars, bass, drums, violin and cello with theatricality, punk and sharp political edge. Their DIY practice extends beyond the music into self-produced releases, visual storytelling (pretty visual to be exact they even had a scary caricature of Margaret Thatcher walk around the room), and an unruly aesthetic that takes aim at Thatcherism and celebrates queer expression. THWACK! make a compelling case for mixing protest and play, as well as urging people to have difficult conversations with their circles to start changing the old-school ways of thinking. Community is something the band actively strives to create, pushing against sexism, transphobia and making room for people whose identities are too often treated as inconvenient or controversial. All this, combined with impeccable violin and cello backdrops meant that the band is not only punk, but can also pull of an incredible performance and bring something completely unique to the table. They also concluded their set with a retake on “I Kissed A Girl”, which was a suitable end and transition into the next act.
The night’s political heart was not limited to one cause. Support for a free Palestine, socialism and queer liberation and trans rights all emerge from the same rejection of an established system that values profit over human lives. When HAWXX took the stage, the evening’s political undertone became an unstoppable current. The London-based trio, consisting of vocalist Annouli Papadimitriou, guitarist Hannah Staphnill and drummer Jess Dann, have built their sound around the tension between beauty and brutality. Live, this contrast was even more compelling: they had soaring melodies mixed with jagged riffs, clean vocals giving way to visceral screams and rhythm sections merging into solos with a force that felt ready to erupt. Their setlist consisted of songs such as “Bite”, Resistance”, “Shriek” and “We Are Nature”, as well as the highlight of the night “Sacred Water”, with a clarinette interlude and a weave of the traditional Greek song “Thalassaki” (meaning little sea) that made it even more bone-chilling. The band performed the song in the middle of the room in a holy circle, making the audience not just witness, but be part of the performance. Going back into the metal and punk influences of “Macho Bullshit” and “Whore”, HAWXX never ceased to remind people about the political messages behind each song, and their commitment to making space for women and queer people in heavy music.
By the time the set reaches its most confrontational moments, the distinction between rage and release begins to dissolve. HAWXX do not offer easy answers or the comfort of pretending the outside world can be shut out. Instead, they make a persuasive case for facing it together: loudly, collectively and without apology.
