On a musical level, Lande Hekt’s solo albums provide a welcome jolt of nostalgia. The bulk of the material takes on a big, jangly approach which evokes strong memories of the early 90s, and Lande’s finest songs are an equal match for The Sundays’ best. With some superb music offset by some sometimes very personal narratives, they’re recordings that also retain a contemporary heart. In the live setting, the singer-songwriter abandons a band set-up in favour of a solo approach, which allows the lyrical elements to take centre stage. The very intimate Ramsgate Music Hall really suits the scaled back delivery with Lande reworking fan favourites and new tracks for voice, guitar and occasional loop pedal.
Kicking off with ‘Kitchen II’, Hekt’s pleasingly retro style hits with a genuine immediacy, Without the studio cut’s bassline, there’s more power in the rhythm guitar, and the sharpness of the chords gives the opening performance an edge. This doesn’t detract from a great vocal, however, and the way her tones rises and falls against a solid but shimmering backdrop really sells the track. ‘Backstreet Snow’ comes with even more confidence since Lande has really settled into the venue’s surroundings, absolutely owning the tiny stage, and that confidence is further felt when a brilliant rendition of ‘Lola’ is prefaced with an unrehearsed tale of cats, and the brand new ‘A Million Broken Hearts’ – making its live debut, but already sounding as if it’s part of Hekt’s regular repetoire – is coupled with a long speech regarding Britain’s souring political climate. It’s a bold move in a seaside town where Reform appear to be taking an unwelcome hold, but the majority of gig-goers appear to be on her side.
The absolutely lovely ‘Rabbits’ – a highlight from current album ‘Lucky Now’ – brings a change of pace when the janglier elements are interspersed with more intricate lead work, presenting a clarity of sound that leans further into dream pop. Although this number’s melodic stance offers one of Hekt’s more memorable numbers, it’s quickly matched by ‘Gay Space Cadets’, an old-school indie banger driven by 4AD inspired melodies and an expletive driven chorus. It’s clear that, at this point in the set, most of the attendant crowd – free of “gig natterers” – are hanging off of every word.
The latter part of the set feels a little more low key, but for those who’ve already invested in ‘Lucky Now’ – Hekt’s third full length solo release – solid outings for the record’s title cut and the single ‘New Pair of Shoes’ help to round out a great set. There’s been no ‘December’ tonight, but what’s been shared over the course of just under an hour has played like a brilliant crash course in the world of Lande Hekt, and an absolutely brilliant showcase for ‘Happy Now’, which is arguably the performer’s strongest collection of songs to date.
The night’s set has been short, and the solo aspect has meant things have occasionally felt a little less varied than perhaps they could have been with a full band in tow. The audience has also been what could be described as select but loyal. However, what has been experienced tonight has still felt special, and with some solid support from Tenderness – a solo performer sharing some rather downbeat but lovely songs – providing extra value, pretty much no-one has gone home disappointed.
April 2026