Review: Quireboys, Soho Dukes, Matty James Cassidy

Saltbox, Nottingham (November 30^th 2025)

Photographer – Dan Mann

Is it really 35 years? When they say time flies, they weren’t bloody kidding! I remember back when the Quireboys were still called the Queerboys, and Spike co-hosted a rock night at Gossips on Dean Street in Soho. And here we are all these years later and the Quireboys are still not only playing, but are still well loved.

The night’s entertainment started off with a set by Matty James Cassidy. With just a guitar and harmonica for company, Matty performed a polished set, which was played to an already full venue, something which I wish happened more often for support acts.

Matty James Cassidy

Setlist:

Contradiction/Smoke

The Road To No Town

After All

Tell It To The Ghosts

Top Of The Hill

How The Beautiful Fall

Trouble

Sticks & Stones/Same Old

Can’t Go Home

I’d only seen the Soho Dukes once before, must be about eight years ago at Croydon Rocks. Fully charged and raring to go, with new album ‘Nighthawks, Acrobats And Everything Under The Moon‘ just released (review here), their popularity has certainly grown ten-fold. A set that had capacity crowd fully engaging with the band. With their own flavour of Rock n’ Roll, they’re a band who may not be to everyone’s taste musically, but they will certainly leave you thoroughly entertained!

Soho Dukes

Setlist:

Camden

Elaine

Should Know Better

Bowers

Suited+Booted

Excited

Johnny Domino

Stones Throw

Sunday Magazines

Miale

And so to the headliners. What is there to say about the Quireboys that you’ll probably already know? Now consisting of two parts Thunder, with Luke Morley on guitar, and Harry James on drums, ex-Grip keyboardist Willie Dowling (also playing with Cats In Space), and of course Nigel Mogg on bass with everyone’s loveable frontman Spike!

With a setlist that will delight any Quireboys fan, this was fun filled slice of memory lane, a chance to forget about the World’s ills and just enjoy the music and banter. Fabulous.

Quireboys

Setlist:

Jeeze Louise

Can’t Park Here

Misled

Sweet Mary Ann

Raining Whiskey

You and I

Hey You

Whippin’ Boy

I Think I Got It Wrong Again

King of New York

Happy

Man on the Loose

Roses & Rings

There She Goes Again

7 O’Clock

Encore:

Sex Party

I Don’t Love You Anymore

©All photographs are copyright of Dan Mann – RPR Photography. They may not be altered or used without express permission.