The Soundtrack of Nostalgia?

If you were out and about in the Noughties, nostalgia might look like skinny jeans, band tees, and smudged eyeliner.

But, what does nostalgia sound like?

For many people in the ‘indie sleaze’ scene, it sounds like the raw energy of The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, LCD Soundsystem, The Libertines, and Arctic Monkeys. It was dominated by loud guitar riffs, pounding drums, and sharp, self-assured lyrics that echoed through the floorboards of the countless pubs, independent venues and festivals of the Noughties.

Among North London’s finest were The Holloways, the outfit behind the 2007 hit Generator. The four-member band formed in 2004. Their debut album So This Is Great Britain? became known for its infectious hooks and politically cheeky lyrics.

At their peak, The Holloways toured with fellow indie icons like Babyshambles, The Pogues, The Kooks, The Rakes, The Wombats, The Pigeon Detectives, and CSS.

After some issues with their record label, a fire which resulted in the loss of much of their musical equipment, The Holloways split in 2011, saying goodbye to their fans with an emotional performance in London in May of that year. After such a meteoric rise early on in career, many fans were left devastated.

In 2014, founding member Rob Skipper tragically passed away following a drug overdose. This was a pivotal moment in the lives of the remaining members of The Holloways, who are now advocates for mental health awareness in the music industry and drug reform.

Although the remaining members have gone on their own paths, they've ocassionally gotten back together, playing in shows around the country.

This October, they’ll transport you back to 2007 with their long-awaited rapid-fire comeback tour.

20 years after they met at iconic music venue Nambucca on Holloway road, they’re reuniting for a tour steeped in nostalgia. Back in skinny jeans, returning to beloved venues and playing the music that defined an era, the tour is a must-see for any indie rock lovers out there.

Since The Holloways' prime years and the golden years of indie, much has changed about the music industry. With many grassroots venues shutting down, skyrocketing ticket prices and the general cost of living crisis, it is difficult for many young musicians to grow organically without the support of record labels. The Holloways credits small, community-centred venues in helping grow their career, developing their skills as musicians and growing an organic fanbase.

The charm of The Holloway's rise is that their music, performances and aesthetic captured the sentiments of an entire generation. The Noughties were obsessed with authenticity, raw and imperfect depictions of the lives of the youth, and disillusionment with politics and commercialism.

Of course, the Noughties were also defined by their analogue technology, with the community sharing music through word-of-mouth, music magazines, or mp3s in USBs. Even MySpace was a relatively new development for the music nerds of the era!

The Holloways captured lightning in a bottle with how they were able to grow a massive following in this era. The band performed at major music festivals like Glastonbury, and had gigs as far away as Japan. With a lot of fans eagerly anticipating their return, the band will be back to "generate" happiness among indie rock lovers.

If you'd like to catch The Holloways perform, check out below for their stops this comeback tour.

The Holloways 2025 Tour Dates

October 1 | Norwich | The Adrian Flux Waterfront | Buy tickets

October 2 | London | Dingwalls | Buy tickets

October 3 | Birmingham | O2 Institute3 Birmingham | Buy tickets

October 4 | Manchester | The Bread Shed | Buy tickets

October 5 | Grimsby | Docks Academy | Buy tickets