If you’ve ever wandered through the world of Britpop looking for something a little stranger, a little sharper, and a whole lot more theatrical, you eventually bump into Pulp and once you do, it’s hard not to stick around there for a while.
Fronted by the endlessly charismatic Jarvis Cocker, Pulp formed in Sheffield in 1978 and spent the ’80s slowly simmering before absolutely detonating in the mid-’90s. What set them apart wasn’t just the hooks (though there are plenty), but the way they blended kitchen-sink storytelling with disco-tinged swagger. Their songs often feel like short films; neon-lit, cheeky, awkward, seductive, and painfully aware of the difference between who we are and who we wish we were.
Famous for unforgettable singles, Disco 2000, Do You Remember The First Time? and Common People - which became the unofficial national anthem of ironic dancing, student nights, and anyone who’s ever felt like the world’s class divides are absurd. But spend some time with the rest of Different Class and you’ll find a whole gallery of characters, from voyeurs, romantics to cynics, and dreamers, all sketched with tenderness and a sly grin.
What’s especially fun about Pulp is how they make melancholy feel glamorous and glamour feel just a bit sad. Synths shimmer, strings swoop, and Cocker narrates it all with that unmistakable half-spoken, half-sung style that sounds like he’s whispering secrets from the back corner of a dimly lit club.
As artists, Pulp is a treasure trove of storytelling, visuals and dry humour, and taking time to experience awkward beauty of ordinary life. Through the albums; His ‘n’ Hers (1994), Different Class (1995) and This Is Hardcore (1998), they showcased their Britpop sound and cemented their status as indie icons.
The legendary group has split and reformed several times over the years, most recently announcing a reunion tour in 2023. They shared their first single in almost 24 years, Spike Island in April 2025, with a new album, More, released in June.
Next summer, catch them headlining Live From Wythenshawe Park in Manchester with special guest Self Esteem.
Full details and dates below.
Don't miss your chance to see Pulp and very special guest Self Esteem next summer.
