Pup  

On 6 July 2026, PUP brings its Toronto-born punk energy to Chalk, Brighton. Also known as Pathetic Use of Potential, the quartet has built a reputation for sharp, hook-driven songs that swing between urgency and self-deprecating humor. Guitars grind and jangle, choruses stick fast, and lyrics tap into anxiety, friendship and the messiness of everyday life without turning dour. Live, they move fast: tight turns, gang vocals, sudden dropouts and pile-on refrains that invite the room to shout back. Stefan Babcock’s vocal bite rides a rhythm section that punches hard then pulls away, keeping the tension high and the songs lean.

PUP’s set thrives on connection more than polish. Expect newer cuts to sit alongside the tracks that first lit up their crowds, all reworked for volume and sweat. The band leans into call-and-response moments and communal singalongs, the kind that make a mid-size room feel crowded in the best way. It’s the kind of show where catharsis comes with a grin and the melodies outlast the noise.

Special guests open the evening before PUP takes the stage at Chalk.