In the Clouds with Sunday (1994) at EartH Theatre - Review

“This is my favourite show, I’m having so much fun,” Sunday (1994)’s lead vocalist Paige Turner announced mid-set, as she moved towards the her bandmate, guitarist Lee Newell.

It’s hard to fathom that the LA-based dream-pop group’s first single only came out last year, judging by the size and devotion of the crowd that filled EartH Theatre on Thursday night. Fresh off a very successful run of European dates and a summer on the UK festival circuit, the band returned to London for their final show of the year, closing it out with an intimate yet powerful performance.

Earlier in the night, openers Hot Stamp delivered a confident set that hardly betrayed the fact it was only their second show with a full band. CQ Wrestling followed, channeling indie-sleaze nostalgia with post-punk northern grit, alternating vocalists as they played new material.

As atmospheric soundscapes flooded the room, Turner emerged in an all-white dress, twirling her way onto the stage. The energy was immediate, and it didn’t take long for the initially shy audience to loosen up and, by the time the opening notes of ‘Our Troubles’ hit, everyone had been roped into the band's dream-like world.

Turner and Lee are fully at home on stage: pristine vocals, innovative guitars, and a disarming honesty and wittiness that leaves no one indifferent. The band’s new backing musicians, a recent addition to the lineup, folded seamlessly into the mix, elevating the performance. 

It is clear that although Sunday (1994) may only have an EP and an album so far, their already distinct sound is the product of a long-term creative partnership. One of the night’s funniest moments came when Turner introduced the new band members, jokingly describing Slough, where guitarist Lee is from, as “the most beautiful place on earth,” eliciting a round of laughter from the crowd. The banter continued throughout the set, with Turner later joking that a British crowd always sings back “choir-style, no questions asked.”

The setlist gathered highlights including the fan-favourite ‘Stained Glass Window’, ‘Silver Ford’ (a bleak story with a happy ending that had to be told, according to Turner), and the recently released ‘Rain’. By the encore, the crowd had fully given in, asking for one more song. ‘Blossom’ developed slowly and dreamily, before the band closed with ‘Tired Boy’, the single that first catapulted them into broader recognition, sending the room into a final wave of collective joy — a perfect ending to a bitterly cold November evening.

To wrap up the night, Turner and Newell thanked the crowd: “We put out our first album in 2024, and look at the rooms we get to play. You’re truly amazing.”

Photo gallery below:

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WORDS BEA VASQUES

PHOTOS ANA PINTO