Mouth Culture and Hot Milk
The Waterfront // Norwich, England // 7 April 2025
Photos and review by Stuart Peach
If you ever get the chance to catch Hot Milk and Mouth Culture live, do yourself a favour and go. Last week I had the chance to catch both in Norwich and it was a great Monday night out!
I was lucky enough to get to see Mouth Culture here in Norwich less than half a year ago when they supported Kids in Glass Houses so it was great to have them back again so soon. The band have been on the up and just come fresh off supporting You Me at Six on some of their final shows. They played a tight set and included their new song Ratbag which is out now, alongside some of their more established songs, my favourite being “Everyday’ and ending with one of the songs that was my introduction to them back in 2023 – “Don’t Pull Up.” Despite the intimate setting, Mouth Culture’s stage presence felt larger than life. Lead vocalist Jack put on an energetic performance, the band are making some huge waves this year and will be playing at both Slam Dunk and Reading & Leeds festivals. Make sure you catch them if you’ve the chance!
Then came Hot Milk, I was lucky to catch them at Truck Festival 2019 and even back then when they were a fresher carton of milk they blew me away. From the moment they hit the stage, the energy was palpable and the energy went straight back up again. They opened with one of their newer singles “90 Seconds to Midnight” and played a smattering of their hits to the Norwich crowd with “Breathing Underwater” bringing out the loudest voices in the room to sing along. What sets Hot Milk apart is their ability to balance raw, punk energy with moments of genuine emotion and a real connection with their dedicated fans. I’m very grateful that more bands within the scene are making the trip to Norwich as part of their tours, as we get closer to festival season I’m hopeful that others will make the trip over and play some warm up shows.
Both Mouth Culture and Hot Milk are bands to watch as they’re climbing to the top of the scene within the UK. Mouth Culture’s blend of grunge and indie-pop offers a fresh perspective on the current rock scene and really takes me back to the mid 2000s when bands like You Me at Six and Young Guns were leading the charge. Hot Milk’s high-octane performances and heartfelt lyrics remind us of the power of live music. If you get the chance to see either (or both) live, don’t hesitate. They’re the real deal, and their shows are experiences you won’t soon forget.
