January: horrendous weather, short days, and the post-Christmas comedown. Well, it’s nearly over, and WREX saw it off in style at The Fulford Arms.

By Graeme Smith

Photos by Stuart Duthie

I’m not a huge fan of punk and alternative rock but sometimes it’s called for. Brighton’s WREX are certainly making their mark on the genre. The pair of George Donoghue and Mae Seaton are grafters, working tirelessly on their records and live shows, as they revealed to us recently in a candid interview.

Their trip to The Fulford Arms was part of an Independent Venue Week mini-tour – five shows in five nights starting in Nottingham and ending up in Portsmouth. York was their second date, so I was expecting plenty of energy without those first show nerves. Was that what we got?

I’ll answer that later, but first the supports. We had two last night: Maisie Jo and Suspicious Liquid. The former hails from Wakefield while the later are based right here in York.

I wasn’t expecting some classic country to start the night but that’s what Maisie Jo gave us. She also fronts the punk band Under The Influence so that probably landed her the gig. Still, it was a gentle way to ease into the night, with some classic covers and a song about escaping Wakefield.

Suspicious Liquid were more on theme, bringing a hefty dose of psychedelia to their brand of classic rock. A Black Sabbath cover brought things back after some technical difficulties. Some Lovecraftian post rock then sealed the deal.

When WREX came on, they didn’t waste any time getting stuck in. Energy, tick. There was plenty of angst from the start as they delivered their brand of emotional hardcore. Their USP is their trading of twin vocals, and it works well live. Both front people demand your attention. Mae is animated while George is more constrained and the contrast works. It’s the kind of show that would go down well in a festival tent, or dare I say even an arena.

They rattled through their set at breakneck speed, all killer no filler. They finished big with one of Metal Hammer’s songs of 2024, Heaven’s Gate (a personal highlight), and the Helter-skelter Paradise.

Independent Venue Week is put on each year to remind us how important small venues are to the music ecosystem, and its timing is impeccable. Getting to a local gig and seeing some spirited bands is the perfect way of banishing the January blues.

Maisie Jo, Suspicious Liquid, and WREX played at The Fulford Arms on Wednesday 28 January 2026.