3am, A Head of Snakes Record Release in OUTSIDELEFT

SWEETPOOL
3am, A Head of Snakes record release in-store
Slow Century Records, Knowle

What would draw a crowd to the Birmingham suburb of Knowle on a late Wednesday afternoon? For some retailers that might be an existential question. What did it last week was Sweetpool, those psyche-out, punky, obstreperous rock makers, with an in-store launch of their 3rd LP, 3am, A Head of Snakes, at the record shop home of their label, Slow Century Records.

LP Art Slow Century Records houses an amazing selection of rare and maybe not so rare but covetable used vinyl titles. It opened in 2025, every record shop that opens should be welcomed, it’s a community culture that almost too late we realised there was a danger of losing permanently. Proprietor John Ellis has found that nice balance between stacking the racks with great records and making Slow Century a nice place to shop.

And now they’ve established their record label—I don’t know if that was part of some masterplan, with a first release from Sweetpool and it was a joyous moment, when John held up a first pressing for all to see. The dappled red vinyl of 3am, A Head of Snakes looking very fine indeed.

In many ways these intimate shows, where the audience is almost standing on your toes, brings out the best in Nic, Sweetpool’s singer and guitarist and the sole performer on the evening. Bassist Jase and drummer Ant were out in full support too, but I guess some consideration had to be made for the hearing of the audience members!

Nic’s set consisted of a couple of songs from the new LP, You Made This and Magic Food; Man in the Castle from Triple Earth Star; also brand new songs, Play That One and The Day We Became Everybody Else; alongside several stalwarts from the bands’ live set. All were enthusiastically received by a crowd that filled every inch of the room. It had a fine Tiny Desk vibe. It was a great show, illuminating the strength of Nic’s songwriting and beautiful measured playing. Wow! Although I’d like to talk to him [guitar nerd alert] about what might be one of the most subjectively hideous excuses for a guitar, —a Yamaha Silent Guitar, I have ever seen.

3am A Head of Snakes has drawn some great reviews already. It’s ambitious in its scope. Partly recorded and engineered by Simon Framework at Blotto— this much I know — a great choice I think, his work is never less than vibrantly enthralling, he reveals sounds other engineers lose in their mud, you can hear the love and attention to detail. The guest players too, are all notably excellent, although I want to mention Birmingham’s beloved Rachel Mayfield for her beautiful vocal contribution to Moon and Meeting No One From The Train.

Sweetpool are snaking up and down the country in support of their LP, and will be at Bearwood’s Blue Room for an Outsideleft afternoon out on… TBD!!!

SWEETPOOL WEEK IN OUTSIDELEFT
MON: It's Sweetpool Week All Week in Outsideleft → | Record Release In-Store at Slow Century →
TUES: Happy Shopper with Jase →
WEDS: Happy Shopper Ant → | Interview with Nic →
THU: 3AM. LP review by Jonathan Thornton → | Happy Shopper with Nic →
FRI: Some Songs Sweetpool really need you to know about...