Faetooth & Cwfen @ Ramsgate Music Hall, 20th June 2025

So here we are, it’s another sweaty June evening, and we are back at one of my favourite places on Earth, Ramsgate Music Hall, for what can only be described as one of the best musical pairings that there has been in recent years. It is, of course, the coupling of Scotland’s Cwfen and the Los Angeles three-piece doom monster that is Faetooth.

For the pairing, Ramsgate is the final stop on this leg of the tour, so you just know that tonight is going to be something incredibly special indeed. With both acts being hot property, this really has been the tour to catch, and the bands have shared stages up and down the country, with Kent being the climax.

Such is the way of things, especially here in the UK, the only chance to catch a lot of international touring bands is if they are playing at the festivals and incorporate some smaller shows into the agenda while they are here. With the likes of Windhand and Faetooth both having been at Download, it was only fitting that both would make a couple of appearances elsewhere, and where I was lucky enough to catch Windhand in London, the real win for me was Faetooth appearing a thirty-minute drive away from my front door.

I always knew the night would be fantastic, after all, it was another Mother Brainevent, as they’ve made a real name for themselves within the heavy music scene, it’s always the seal of quality.

Armed with my camera and my older three offspring, we headed out, and once in the venue, we grabbed a good spot for the evening, which is always a priority with Ramsgate Music Hallbeing an intimate venue. Arriving early is essential, and we managed to get a prime spot at the front, so we wouldn’t miss a thing.

At 8:15pm Cwfen took to the stage, looking every bit the rock star outfit that they are fast becoming. Armed with a set filled with tracks from Sorrows (that I got to review), they proceeded to stun the crowd, which was as hypnotic to watch as it was to listen to. The band were just as captivating live as they are on record, and they wowed the audience as they played through the set.

For me, it was a real treat to hear these tunes given a live rendition that I have had on repeat recently, and whereas the likes of Reliks and Embers were every bit as incredible as I thought they might be, when it came to Penance, it was just utterly overwhelming. The thing is, if you don’t know of Cwfen yet then you really are missing out. They have a real gothic ‘80s sound to them, mixed with a doomy depth which resonates throughout. On record its clear and considered and opens up a wealth of nostalgia, whereas live, you can feel it oozing from the stage in a way which is mesmerising too.

The backline is pummelling throughout, guitars soar, and those vocals, holy fuck, those vocals, haunting and devastating in equal measure. This is a band who have a real heritage in their abilities, in both musicianship, and they hit it just as brilliantly live as on record, and that really is their beauty. As a supporting band, they left such a mark that it would have been hard for any act to follow on from them, but if there was one act that would be equally as incredible, it was Faetooth.

Coming on after a brief reset on the stage, the trio stepped up to the challenge and spent the next hour providing the audience with one of the nights of the year for the Ramsgate Music Hall.

Faetooth wasted no time in giving us a real awakening to just how epic they really are, and as the set got underway, the energy in the room was electric. Looking around briefly, it was heartwarming to catch the crowd utterly transfixed by the trio, and as each new track played out, the initial restraint in giving everything to the audience dropped more and more.

Part of the beauty of Faetooth’s sound is that it’s large, well, gargantuan really, without being overplayed. Each track creeps up on you, and it’s amazing how such an understated beginning can become such an apocalyptic outpouring in the blink of an eye, all while you aren’t paying attention. As for the set itself, it predominantly consisted of tracks from the band’s debut Remnants Of The Vessel, with some new material from their sophomore album Labyrinthine to give a little glimpse of their future.

Echolalia, one of my favourite tracks, was particularly visceral, and every bit as incredible live as I had imagined it to be. Saturn Devouring His Son is an absolute masterclass in restraint and atmospheric gloominess, which propels into sonic despair as it plays through.

Having been really excited at the prospect of this gig and counting the days, when it arrived, it was worth every single second. Both bands showed just how fantastic they are and proved without a shadow of a doubt just what a wealth of up-and-coming bands there are on the scene, deserving of every ounce of adulation that comes their way.

Cwfen, who are looking like being one of the UK’s best underground acts, and Faetooth, who are becoming pioneers for a whole new era in the doom music legacy, were both incredible and utterly mesmerising. Remember the names, I think you will be seeing them quite a lot over the coming years.

It was another incredible night for Ramsgate Music Hall, a triumph for Mother Brain Booking, and a memorable occasion for all who witnessed it.

Faetooth

Cwfen

Words & Photos by: Lee Beamish