Sprints are an Irish-born post-punk powerhouse of a band, emerging on the scene in 2019 and releasing their debut single in 2020. Since then, their journey has been nothing short of meteoric. With two EPs and their debut album, Letter to Self, under their belt, the band has grown from playing tiny venues and festival side stages (where I first encountered them) to selling out larger venues like the Marble Factory.
The show began with an all-red lighting display, reflecting the signature aesthetic of their new album. This dramatic opening soon exploded into vibrant colour, sound, and energy, setting the tone for the rest of the night.
The setlist featured plenty of fresh material for fans to enjoy. As this is the second leg of their tour, Letter to Self has had ample time to settle into the playlists of dedicated fans and casual listeners alike. A standout moment for me was Literary Mind, especially hearing the sold-out crowd scream the line, “And she’s winning!” alongside lead singer Karla Chubb. They also introduced their new single, Feast, released in late September. With characteristic humour, they joked about being bored of their older material after touring the UK and EU earlier this year, prompting them to create something new.
That said, the band seamlessly transitioned between their latest songs and classics from their earlier work, including Cheek, the very first song they ever wrote. This was a fantastic addition to the set, as the room was filled with enthusiastic fans who sang along to every word. They also played one of my personal favourites, How Does the Story Go?, from their second EP, Modern Job.
The crowd’s energy was palpable. Initially warming up during the first couple of songs, they soon matched Karla’s relentless energy, forming one of the happiest mosh pits I’ve ever seen. The small, joyous pit was all smiles, with fans singing along as they threw themselves into each other. I joined in for a few songs, capturing the exuberance with my camera. A security guard later told me I looked like I was having the time of my life—which was absolutely true.
Towards the end of the night, Karla addressed the crowd with a heartfelt speech. She spoke about the privilege of having a platform and the struggles faced by women, trans individuals, and people of colour. Speaking as if to close friends, her words resonated deeply, receiving cheers of support. She concluded by saying, “We can go on, we will go on, and go on together, we shall!”
The night closed with Little Fix, a track from their second EP. The band began the song at a slower tempo before picking up pace, pouring every ounce of energy they had left into the final moments. Karla took things to another level, stepping into the crowd to initiate a wall of death before crowd-surfing her way back to the stage. For the grand finale, she stood on the crowd, physically and emotionally connecting with the people she so clearly respects and appreciates.
As the doors opened to the cool night air, I saw smiles on the faces of fans of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. We had all just experienced an electrifying celebration of punk rock—a true testament to Sprints’ power, passion, and authenticity.
@anna.h_photos
Role: Photographer/ Journalist
Available for: Gig and press phototography, album shoots, music videos, tour coverage
Qualification: 1st class BA photojournalism degree
First attended gig: First ticketed gig I remember is Newton Faulkner but there was plenty of live music that I saw growing up in the folk scene in Cornwall
First gig shot: Rattler Fest for all three days
Dream gig: It's too hard to pick just one, and i'm lucky enough to have been able to shoot some of my bucket list bands already, so top 3 would have to be Frank Turner, The Hives, and Twenty One Pilots
