What began as a lockdown project for lifelong friends Josh Law and Ben Sadler – also known as Getdown Services – has since become an alliance dedicated to capturing the “drudgery, boredom and dissatisfaction” of the everyday. Five years on, they’re embarking on their biggest tour yet, hitting some of the country’s most beloved grassroots venues.
Following a string of dates in Scotland and the North-East of England, soon came their date at the iconic Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, a venue hailed for its long-established cooperative history and support for emerging artists. Joined by Leeds-based funk-punk aficionado, Hang Lington, the main event was preceded by a short but sweet set of dub-infused beats, politically charged rap, and rehashes of Fergie’s ‘Glamorous’ – the perfect entrée for a night poised to revive any stale elements of the alternative category.
Speaking with those at the front of the crowd and testing out their guitars to the chords of Shania Twain’s ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’’, the energy within the venue ahead of their set grew by the second, only to reach its peak as the lights went down and the pair walked on to the boisterous chorus chords of Status Quo’s ‘Whatever You Need’.
Before launching into ‘Head Down For the Conversation’, Law and Sadler set the tone as they meant to continue – connecting with the crowd, showcasing their trademark humour, and addressing the Instagram prank from earlier that hinted at a full set of acoustic Newton Faulkner covers, which they admitted had elicited an enormous response of gullibility. “Anyone who actually believed that is thick as sh*t”, one half of the duo quipped. A fitting nod to the quaint settings outside of the venue’s four walls also came in the form of Law’s Happy Valley-themed t-shirt.
Their inventive lyricism and dry humour only dialled up with the likes of ‘Crisps’, ‘Don’t Cheese Me Off’, and ‘Eat Quiche, Sleep, Repeat’, with their allusions to the mundane, wacky, and quite simply laughable: “Like body odour on the dance floor / I bring a certain sadness to the conga line.”
“It’s impossible to be sad or angry when you look stupid. Trust me, I know”, Sadler joked before breaking into the Bristol-inspired tune ‘Cream of the Crop’ and the supermarket-adoring ‘God Bless’, as the crowd were corralled once again into moving in sync with the band.
“How’s this Newton Faulkner set going? W*nkers.”
Aside from all the jesting, a highlight of the night came with Law’s solo performance of ‘I Wish It Didn’t Bother Me’. With the 200-person crowd coming together to relay the chorus back to the frontman, it quickly became a standout moment within their set. Brimming with vulnerability and framed by a stripped-down acoustic backdrop, the song delivered a calm before the storm. “When we come back, it’s party time.” And so it was.
As shirts came off and sweat dripped, the disco-infused ‘Caesar’ had everyone moving, along with the upstairs floor of the 1924-built venue itself. Never letting the show lose momentum, the encore went on to witness the twosome perform a cèilidh, informed and inspired by their recent tour of Scotland, before inviting everyone to join them. Resulting in a room of patrons swirling around carelessly, there was a tangible buoyancy within the crowd, leaving the sense that everyone would gladly hang around for another whole set.
After the first rendition of their biggest hit to date, ‘Dog Dribble’, saw the small but mighty crowd surge into the stage, spilling drinks and knocking over the band’s precious Macbook, the duo quickly recharged to deliver the song once more. Chaotic, funny, and delineated by a genuine appreciation for the fans and venues that have supported their tour, their stint at the Trades Club showcased exactly why Getdown Services are one of the most exciting bands of the moment and ones to keep an eye on in 2026.
Words by Ruby Brown
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