By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Saturday 26 September 2026

Ally Pally, we swore we’d never return due to the walk and public transport … obviously we did, because, well PBS!

• Read on for reasons including what next for Public Service Broadcasting

Eleven years since their second album, The Race for Space (which relived the Soviet/American space race during the Cold War era), the boys performed each side in its entirety, the in-between-sides gap filled with hits and fan favourites, and featured a cool roll-call of guest artists and associated firework bangs and booms.

Their disco sputnik traversing the length of the Ally Pally ceiling cannot be forgotten – fans have since posted of their high running emotions during that stunt.

Public Service Broadcasting have been described, by the blog Music Four Desire, as chamber psych music. And I can’t think of a better description.

Willgoose’s reluctance towards (his own) singing introduced samples from, well, public service broadcasts. Hence the name.

But they’re not all synth: Willgoose himself plays guitar and banjo, and new(er) member JFAbraham plays vibraslap and a flugelhorn, as well as bass guitar with, of course, Wrigglesworth on drums.

Live shows usually include a 3-strong horn section to add to the live sound as well. We’ve followed PSB since 2013 when they released their first album, Inform-Educate-Entertain, when it was just J Willgoose Esq and Wrigglesworth on drums; I believe we saw one of the first times Mr B “did the visuals”.

Having seen them now 5/6 times, this gig felt like the most decadent, in terms of the visuals, the artists sharing the stage with them (Smoke Fairies, Andreya Casablanca and EERA) and some amazing, I think new, guitar solos from J Willgoose himself!

With Gagarin saved for the encore set list (a personal favourite, not just due to the dancing spacemen), you think they can’t top this. They do. On come all the guests and support act Hamish Hawk to sing The Waterboy’s The Whole of the Moon, which was just the perfect and most unexpected finale.

There is a teaser at the end: 10 years for Every Valley – that would be next year! Watch this space, excuse the pun. Highlights: Progress; Go!; Spitfire; Gagarin and Everest.

• Pictures via Facebook courtesy Public Service Broadcasting Tickets
• Read more from Carron at her blog A Humdrum Mum
• Have you seen Public Service Broadcasting? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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