The Monochrome Set + Dan O'Farrell + Fake Empire, Kola, Southsea/Portsmouth,
Schedule
Sat, 04 Jul, 2026 at 07:30 pm
UTC+01:00Location
KOLA venue | Portsmouth, EN
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The Monochrome Set are delighted to return to Portsmouth for the first time since 1985!!!!The band features original Monochrome Set members Bid (guitar/vocals) and Andy Warren (bass), with Dave Morgan (drums), Athen Ayren (keyboard) and the return of "Foz" on guitar.
The Monochrome Set formed in 1978, and were heavily influential in the post-punk scene that evolved after the initial scorched earth of punk.
The band's early releases were on the legendary Rough Trade label before signing with Virgin offshoot Din Disc.
They also released several albums on the Cherry Red label, making a notable appearance on that labels' well known "Pillows and Prayers" compilation.
Though The Monochrome Set split in 1985 the next decade saw several reunions for both live gigs and further studio recordings.
After a hiatus of over a decade the band reformed full time in 2010 and have since toured all over the UK, Europe, Japan and the USA, whilst also releasing eight, new, critically acclaimed, studio albums.
Now in their 48th year, they are beginning a new series of gigs promoting their new album and playing songs from throughout that time
Support - Dan O'Farrell
Formed in 2017 to give Dan O’Farrell’s songs of poetry, politics, Shakespeare and, erm, traffic-lights some extra light and shade, The Difference Engine have grown from the core trio of Dan (guitar and vocals), Rick Foot (double-bass) and Chris Walsh (drums) to include Rufus Grig on keyboards and – occasionally – TV personality Matt Allright on pedal-steel. After supporting such luminaries as Wreckless Eric, The Levellers and Robyn Hitchcock, and festival appearances at Victorious, IOW, Wickham and Bestival, they release their fourth album – ‘The Fish That Learned To Drown’ in January 2026.
Described by NME’s Amrik Rai as ‘erudite, morose and challenging’, the band pride themselves on having something to say and increasingly varied ways of saying it, but lyrically and musically. Often working hard to avoid categorisation they will, if pushed, grudgingly except that they are ‘sort of alt-folky, with an indie-rock edge and a soupcon of country…
FAKE EMPIRE
Fake Empire are a post-punk/indie rock band from Portsmouth, UK, known for their atmospheric sound, releasing music like the album FLAWS, and frequently playing local venues like The Warehouse of Rapture (Staggeringly Good Brewery) and The Wedgewood Rooms. They've gained local recognition, featured on Express FM, and are part of the Southsea music scene, often playing festivals like Icebreaker
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Where is it happening?
KOLA venue, 3 New Road East, Portsmouth, PO2 7RR, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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