Slowdive + Loop + Hookworms

They kind of ruined the surprise by counting down the days until the announcement on Twitter, but it's still a big deal that British five-piece Slowdive have got back together. Between 1989 and 1994 they were up there with fellow Creation Records bands My Bloody Valentine and Ride as pioneers of shoegaze, the reverb-heavy genre that still has a huge influence on today's music scene. Now, 20 years since their last gig, the five original members have reunited to bring their serene and lovely, spaced out, and mysteriously drifting sounds to a whole new audience.

Loop are in the same boat. After many years of being asked to play again, the influential late-’80s English trance-rock band has finally relented with a small tour, despite admitting that their initial stint back in the day "didn't end that well". Though they never quite attained commercial success, Loop were nevertheless pivotal players – alongside Jesus and The Mary Chain and Spaceman 3 – on the scene that would morph into shoegaze in the early '90s.

Rounding out the line-up are heavily tipped Leeds outfit Hookworms, who provide psychedelic rock that's heavy, engrossing and euphoric. In a live setting they storm along with a hefty motorik thrust, and play very loud indeed. A fine addition to a night that will have British expats of a certain age misty-eyed with reminiscence.