I was in York the other day, walking through Kings Square when I hear two starry-eyed kids utter “he’s got a vagabond t-shirt on”. And my son was in Hull, wearing his vagabond band t-shirt, when someone at his college exclaimed “I have seen that band play”. Perhaps their reputation is spreading?

Review and Photos by Stuart Duthie

As bassist and singer Fin announced, it’s been a while since Vagabond have played York. And it’s five months since I last saw them at the Fulford Arms, during which time they have been busy playing gigs around and about including Sheffield.

So tonight they are playing the Fulfordgate WMC just down the road from the Fulford Arms, supported by No Salvation and Vertigo. All 3 bands have attracted York’s young alt scene and with 90 tickets sold beforehand, and more on the door, it can’t have been far off full capacity. With a throng of fans outside the door, inside was lively and loud, even before the music started. Each of the bands had their merch on the stand, modelled and sold by parents taking up side-gigs in sales, as roadies, or in band management.

No Salvation opened the evening with a ferocious set. No warm up needed. Or if it was, you certainly didn’t get it. They drove a hard bargain and, for me, one that would be difficult for Vertigo to meet. But Vertigo had their supporters with them and the audience clearly enjoyed their set as much as the band enjoyed playing it.

Two bands down, with the tickets already feeling like really good value, it was time to see what Vagabond have been up to. Every time I see them there is perhaps a little more polish, a slightly more self-assured set. There is a growing professionalism and, rightly, no lack of confidence.

Tonight we had an eighteen song set, all originals aside from two covers including the Prodigy’s Breathe. You still get the trademark elements of the show, with Freddos being thrown out to the crowd to eager hands before they launch into Freddo Fantasy, and then the t-shirts coming off as the show nears its close accompanied by chants of encouragement for their drummer to do likewise (which he always declines). And you know they haven’t quite finished until they do their cover of Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit. Having enjoyed Limp Bizkit live at Download Festival, would it be sacrilege to suggest that I might just prefer Vagabond’s rockier take on this track?

No Salvation, Vertigo and Vagabond played at Fulfordgate WMC on Friday 25 September 2026.