Gig Review: 3 Daft Monkeys - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge. Saturday 22nd November 2025

Katie Fitzgerald’s and the 3 Daft Monkeys are a good fit. They’ve met before and likely will do again. The latest acquaintance had the bonus of a sold out Saturday audience and a boisterous atmosphere to celebrate the positive energy of a proudly independent folk band. This oxymoron-quartet is renowned for a live show full of connective synergy, and many excursions from a Cornish base are met by a fanbase full of vocal verve. Songs of Anger and Redemption are established promoters at this Stourbridge venue and were no doubt chuffed with how the evening panned out.

Katie’s secret garden, the performing space within the grounds of this former active pub, was just starting to fill up when support act Brad Dear and the March took to the stage. They were similar to 3 Daft Monkeys in set up with stand-up double bass replacing the electric version of the headline. The songs and presentation were built for busy Saturday night venues and a 45-minute stint suitably warmed folks up on a damp and chilly late November Midlands evening, 

3 Daft Monkeys blend a central/eastern European folk style with a punkier anglicised version akin to iconic acts like The Levellers. They have a striking visual presence and waste little time imposing a danceable affection on the audience. The core duo is Tim Ashton (vocals, acoustic guitar, penny whistle) and Athene Roberts (violin). The band line up is completed by Jamie Graham (bass) and Rich Mulryne (hand percussion) and together they relay a passionate set of singalong anthems amidst moments of entertaining stage craft.

A 25 year DIY approach has served the band well with numerous albums popping up along the way. The latest release Information Camouflage proved a popular source for the setlist with 'Power to the Peaceful' both opening the album and the show. Likewise infectious sea shanty singalong 'Ebb and Flow' closes the record and also memorably sends folks home from the live show with their vocal cords well activated. 

Other picks from the new record included the politically charged 'Message to Authority' and the ode to folklore 'The Fiji Mermaid'. The latter more relevant to coastal Cornwall than the landlocked Black Country but who knows! Also 'Easily' from this record had a feel good charm while 'Roses' contains all the trademark zany impishness luring the crowd into vociferous responses and much movement 

Throughout the hour and half on stage, the band called at various stops in the catalogue going back the farthest in the 20 year old song 'Hubbadillia', appropriately inserted in the first encore slot. There will always be a political undercurrent to the type of music 3 Daft Monkeys play. 'Year of the Clown' is sadly just as relevant now to when written in 2016. But spates of anger can make great art.

For many years there has been a breakout of mass waltzing at 3 Daft Monkeys shows and Stourbridge played its part turning the venue into Strasburg 1580 during 'Days of the Dance' while interspersed with some orchestrated bouncing. More straightforward bopping responds to 'World on its Head' in its usual climactic pre-encore spot. 

3 Daft Monkeys know how to convey a good time and a Katie Fitzgerald’s Saturday night crowd know how to have one. Underneath the frivolous exterior of exuberant violin, animated bass and thrilling percussion lies an accomplished music combo powering on in their inimitable way. Plenty of miles on the clock but still a lot more to come.