slowdive Tickets

Reading quintet Slowdive create a heady brew of psychedelic and dream pop, layered with shoegaze and ambient electronica. From 1995’s seminal Souvlaki through to 2023’s acclaimed everything is alive, the shape-shifting band have maintained their capacity to surprise.

Slowdive formed in Reading, England in 1989. Fronted by singer/guitarists Rachel Goswell and Neil Halstead, the quintet was initially rounded out by Nick Chaplin (bass), Christian Savill (guitar) and Adrian Sell (drums). The fledgling band signed to the renowned Creation label and released an EP of demos in 1990. The band’s early singles and EPs – now with ex-Charlottes drummer Simon Scott on board – found favour with influential mag, Melody Maker.

Slowdive’s full-length debut, Just For A Day, arrived in 1991, followed quickly by Blue Day, a compilation of their early EPs. The band collaborated with Brian Eno for their sophomore album, Souvlaki, which represented a huge leap forwards in sound and songcraft. However, issues with their US record label disrupted the band’s progress, forcing them to fund a two-week tour themselves.

The quintet’s third album, Pygmalion, proved a significant departure, as Halstead led the band into more ambient territory. Slowdive splintered, with Halstead and Goswell teaming up with Ian McCutcheon (who had played on the band’s last record) forming Mojave 3.

In 2014, the line-up of Halstead, Goswell, Chaplin, Savill and Sell reformed to play festival dates and tour extensively. The band’s fourth album, Slowdive, followed in 2017 and was greeted with enthusiastic reviews across the board. Three years later, Slowdive returned to the studio. Halstead’s vision of an ambient electronic record merged with the band’s dreamy take on shoegaze to form everything is alive, another critical success.