Personal Trainer

Personal Trainer play Clwb Ifor Bach on Friday 16 October, with the show starting at 5:00 PM. It's a single-act bill, so the whole evening is built around them.

Personal Trainer is the creative project of frontman and songwriter Willem Smit. He started out in Amsterdam's underground scene and has since grown it into an internationally touring band. The name is a bit of a misnomer — there's no gym gear involved here, just indie rock. The project is described as an ever-evolving one, and that's a good way to put it: it's Smit's songwriting at the centre, with the band around him shifting and growing as the music does.

If you're wondering what that actually sounds like, the press has been fairly descriptive. Pitchfork called it an electrifying force in modern indie rock, with casually confident songwriting that bursts with spirit and enthusiasm. MOJO described it as full of craft and invention, and UNCUT called it fabulously eclectic. Between them, they paint a picture of a band that doesn't stick to one particular lane, and that eclectic streak is something you'll likely hear in the set.

It's a Friday evening slot in the city centre, so you can head down to Clwb Ifor Bach at 11 Womanby Street and be out again in time for dinner or drinks afterwards. The show starts at 5:00 PM, which is early for a gig, so it's one of those nights you can get through and still have your whole evening ahead of you.