Haircut 100 sprang from London with a bright mix of jazz-funk bass, jangly guitars, and sunlit hooks.

Forty years, reunion energy

After decades mostly apart, Nick Heyward rejoined the classic lineup, turning recent shows into a careful return that highlights the songs more than the comeback itself. Their identity balances clean guitar chops from Graham Jones, dancing bass by Les Nemes, tight drums from Blair Cunningham, and congas by Marc Fox.

Setlist snapshot and who shows up

Expect Love Plus One, Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), and Fantastic Day, with a strong chance of Whistle Down the Wind folded in from Heyward's solo book. The crowd skews cross-generational, with crate-diggers in vintage polos, teens who found them on playlists, and couples mouthing horn lines more than lyrics. A neat quirk is how the band built early songs around percussion, unusual for UK pop of the time, putting Marc Fox right up front. Another tidbit: original drummer Patrick Hunt exited as hits arrived, and the shift to Blair Cunningham sharpened the pocket fans now expect. For clarity, details about songs and stage moves here are inferred from recent reports and may differ on the night.

Fresh Cut Culture: Haircut 100 Fans Up Close

You will notice pastel knits, narrow ties, bucket hats, and clean trainers, a low-key nod to early 80s weekend style.

Chants, claps, and bright colors

During Love Plus One, many fans echo the guitar stabs with soft claps instead of shouting, which suits the band's neat aesthetic. There is usually a warm cheer when the congas kick in, and the room settles into a bounce rather than a shove. Merch trends run toward Pelican West graphics, simple type tees, and 7-inch single art rather than loud designs.

Community in small details

Between songs, you hear people trade stories about Top of the Pops memories, first import 12-inches, and crate finds from charity shops. Younger faces often ask about which B-sides to try next, and older fans point them to Nobody's Fool or deeper album cuts. It feels like a gentle, detail-loving scene that treats rhythm as conversation and leaves room for smiles and space to move.

Tidy Lines: Haircut 100 on Stage, Sound First

Expect crisp tenor leads from Nick Heyward, sung with an easy glide that favors clear diction over grit.

Groove-first pop architecture

Guitars sit bright and percussive, often capoed high to leave space for Les Nemes to bounce melodic bass lines. Blair Cunningham keeps tempos spry rather than frantic, giving the congas and shakers from Marc Fox room to chatter. Live arrangements tend to tighten the verses and stretch a breakdown, especially on Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) where the claps lock to congas.

Small tweaks that land big

Horns, whether live players or triggered parts, punctuate choruses like exclamation marks but stay out of the vocal lane. On reunion dates, they sometimes lean a hair slower on Love Plus One, which deepens the pocket and invites the crowd harmony on the la-la refrain. The band favors clean stops and brisk re-entries, a trick that keeps the dance feel without turning songs into jams.

Fringe Friends: Haircut 100's Kindred Acts

Fans of Level 42 will feel at home because both acts ride melodic bass grooves with breezy pop choruses.

Kindred hooks and clean grooves

ABC makes sense too, sharing sleek 80s polish, bright horn accents, and suit-and-sparkle charm in the live mix. Squeeze overlaps on smart songcraft and tight, story-first tunes that still leave room for brisk guitar interplay. If your taste leans more ska-pop bounce, The English Beat offers the same agile rhythms and upbeat dance floor sway.

Why this cluster works

All four acts favor clear melodies over bombast, letting rhythm sections carry the night while guitars and horns color the edges. They also draw crowds that sing confidently but listen closely, which suits Haircut 100 styles built on lightness and detail. If you rotate those bands already, this show likely clicks the same boxes of groove, charm, and tidy craftsmanship.