IMPRESSIVE, FUN AND FULL OF CONNECTION: HANDSOMERAT IN ATHERTON

LIVE REVIEW | HANDSOMERAT | THE SNUG, ATHERTON | 30th May 2026 by Myles Pearson

As I wandered into The Snug, I felt a strange sense of reassurance. There are no flashy VIP areas and no barriers separating artist from audience. There’s certainly no sense that anyone is trying to be the most important person in the room.

Arriving shortly before the music began, I found myself chatting with HandsomeRat frontman Patrick Hagans. As we spoke, Patrick’s affection for venues like The Snug quickly became apparent. In a world where grassroots venues continue to struggle, it was refreshing to hear somebody speak so passionately about their importance.

Supported by Harry Wright and then Callum Codd, the night was effortlessly communal. Rather than disappearing backstage before their headline slot, Patrick and members of HandsomeRat spent much of the evening watching the support acts, chatting with audience members and encouraging the performers on stage. It’s an easy thing to overlook, yet it says a great deal about who they are.

By the time HandsomeRat took to the stage, around twenty to thirty people had gathered inside The Snug. It wasn’t a huge crowd, but it never felt like a small one. Everyone was invested in what was about to begin. Then the guitars rang out, and the band opened with Great Expectations. It immediately had everyone bouncing. From there, HandsomeRat jumped into In and Out of Love. If there was one song which captured the spirit of the evening, it was probably that one.

Built around an infectious groove, In and Out of Love felt like the perfect invitation into HandsomeRat’s world. It has a distinctly British sound. The sort of song which feels instantly familiar without ever sounding derivative.

Listening to it, and indeed much of the set, I found myself thinking about the great Manchester bands which blurred the boundaries between indie music and groove. There are flashes of the same energy which made the Happy Mondays so captivating. The songs aren’t content to simply sit there and be admired; they want to turn listeners into participants.

Yet none of it feels trapped in the past. The beauty of HandsomeRat is that younger listeners can enjoy a collection of strong, engaging songs, whilst those old enough to remember the golden era of 90’s Britpop will recognise the sounds once dominating dancefloors and sweaty club nights across the country.

Joined by Lee Hayton, Oli Boydon and Aido Hackett, the band delivered a performance full of warmth and confidence. There was no unnecessary showmanship and no sense that anybody was trying too hard. Every musician seemed completely invested in serving the songs. Meanwhile, Molly “Fryo” Fryearson deserves a mention of her own. While backing vocalists are often overlooked, ‘Fryo’ added real texture, which elevated several of the evening’s strongest moments.

Patrick himself proved to be a compelling frontman. Midway through the set, he stepped off the stage and into the audience, dancing amongst the crowd while the band did their thing. In many ways, it summed up everything that makes HandsomeRat appealing. There’s no rock-star posturing. He’s simply a musician enjoying the moment alongside everyone else.

Watching him weave through the crowd, I realised that HandsomeRat could comfortably play much bigger venues than The Snug. Not because they’re too big for places like this. Quite the opposite. They possess the rare ability to create a connection regardless of the room’s size.

The evening eventually drew to a close with The Tomb of Pope Julius II, a fitting finale that brought the set to a thoughtful conclusion. As the final notes faded away, nobody seemed in a particular rush to leave. Conversations continued, more drinks were poured, and both the musicians and the audience members mixed as though they had all arrived together.

Maybe that’s the highest compliment I can pay HandsomeRat. The songs were excellent. The musicianship was impressive. The atmosphere was fun. Yet what lingers most is the feeling they created.

In an industry increasingly obsessed with streaming figures and social media engagement, HandsomeRat offers a timely reminder that some of the best nights in music still happen in small venues, surrounded by good people, listening to cool songs.