Ratboys at The Garage

Ratboys

Sunday Mourners

Former Champ 

The Garage, 22 May 2026

Even though they've actually been around for over ten years, one of my greatest discoveries this year has been the fantastic Chicago band Ratboys with their latest album, Singin' To An Empty Chair, so I was super excited to finally catch them live at the always great Garage in London, and they certainly didn't let me down! It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

It's been a year since I've been to the Garage but I'm always pleasantly surprised when I arrive at how intimate it is. Still it's crucial to get a good spot at the front and when I first arrived there was surprisingly few people there given it was a sold out show. All the better for me to get a good spot though and thankfully by the time the first support act arrived on stage the crowd was starting to fill out.

Because this show was part of a London festival across numerous venues called the Footsteps Festival, there were two other bands on the bill tonight, the first being Glasgow power pop band, Former Champ.