The Hillbilly Moon Explosion

On Sunday, 24 May 2026, The Hillbilly Moon Explosion will be performing at the Komedia Basement in Brighton. This Swiss group, which formed back in 1998 in Zurich, is visiting the city as part of a brief UK tour following their successful run in London last year. The band was started by vocalist Emanuela Hutter and bassist Oliver Baroni, and they have spent the last couple of decades carving out a specific niche. Their discography is quite extensive, including early records like Introducing the Hillbilly Moon Explosion from 2002 and more recent projects like The Sparky Sessions, their 2019 collaboration with Mark ‘Sparky’ Phillips.

Musically, they sit somewhere between traditional rockabilly and psychobilly, though they aren't strictly tied to one genre. Their sets often incorporate a variety of styles, ranging from surf and blues to punk, lounge pop, and even bits of country and ska. It’s a broad mix that reflects their long history as a touring band. For the Brighton date, they will be supported by special guests, though the specific acts for the opening slot are still to be confirmed. The performance is set to take place in the basement of the venue, which offers a more intimate, standing-room environment for a crowd of around 400 people.

If you are planning to head down to Gardner Street, the doors are scheduled to open at 19:30. There is a bit of an incentive for arriving early, as the venue offers a 20% discount on most drinks—excluding bottles of wine—during the first hour of the evening. Tickets for the show are currently priced between £22.50 and £25.50. Regarding entry requirements, the event is open to those aged 14 and over, but anyone who is 14 or 15 must be accompanied by an adult. As is standard for the Komedia, you will need to bring identification if you intend to purchase alcohol at the bar. The venue is located at 44-47 Gardner Street, right in the middle of the North Laine area.