Coming to The Sugarmill on Friday 19th April ’24, in a fantastic co-headline show – Norway’s finest punk-pop anti-conformists Pom Poko and Dutch indie-rock septet Personal Trainer!

Pom Poko deliver sweet melodies, galvanic punky ructions and wild-at-art-rock eruptions. “If you have a vacancy for Favourite New Band, Pom Poko would like to apply for the role,” tweeted Tim Burgess in April, as the band revisited their joyous debut album, Birthday, for one of Tim’s mood-lifting Twitter listening parties. Pom Poko pimp their CV on all fronts with their glorious second album, Cheater, due for release via Bella Union in January 2021. Cheater is the sound of a band celebrating the binding extremes that make them so uniquely qualified to thrill: and, like Tim’s listening party, to fulfil any need you might have for a pick-you-up.

As singer Ragnhild Fangel explains of the leap from Birthday to Cheater, “I think it’s very accurate to say that we wanted to embrace our extremes a bit more. In the production process I think we aimed more for some sort of contrast between the meticulously written and arranged songs and a more chaotic execution and recording, but also let ourselves explore the less frantic parts of the Pom Poko universe. I think both in the more extreme and painful way, and in the sweet and lovely way, this album is kind of amplified.”

Hailing from the Netherlands Personal Trainer churn out songs that sound like all your favorite indie rock luminaries jam-packed into big-beaming pop psalms. One of the band’s early career highlights was a 24-hour (!) performance at Amsterdam’s legendary pop temple Paradiso. After releasing their debut EP Gazebo on Holm Front in 2021, the band released their first full-length LP Big Love Blanket. Recorded and produced in the span of several studio sessions with co-producer Casper van der Lans, the album brings a fresh pop sensibility and adventurous production values to songs that have been well-honed on the stage.

With support from TASKRZ – these local artists are not bound by expectations or limitations. Instead, they have forged their path, crafting a unique sound that marries grunge, alt-rock, and a touch of punk – and the result is a fierce, loud and unapologetic rock sound.

Tickets on sale NOW HERE