Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds surprised fans by appearing on the rooftop of Brighton’s iconic independent music shop, Resident Records, for an unannounced performance in front of the crowd below. News of the event travelled rapidly through North Laine on Friday morning before Cave and the group stepped onto the roof at 11am, ahead of their headline concert at Preston Park.
The musicians began with Train Long Suffering from The Firstborn Is Dead, performing the song in Brighton for the first time since their 1985 appearance at The Escape Club. "Thank you. F***ing Brighton!" Nick Cave told the fans packed into the surrounding streets. "What a thing to be doing."
The brief show carried on with a piano version of T.Rex’s Cosmic Dancer, accompanied by a violin solo from Warren Ellis, before backing vocalist Janet Ramus joined Cave for the Murder Ballads duet Henry Lee. While performing, Cave acknowledged his wife Susie Cave and their son Earl, who watched from the balcony’s edge. The unexpected set finished with an encore of Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry from Henry’s Dream.
"See you tonight! Thank you. Thank you, Resident records, for this - best fucking record shop in the world," Cave declared as the group left the rooftop.
The special appearance was one of several activities happening throughout Brighton in connection with the band’s sold out and exclusive UK headline concert at Preston Park on Friday 31 July 2026. The Flaming Lips, English Teacher, Cate Le Bon, and Warmduscher were named as supporting acts.
Resident Records is holding a full venue takeover from 30 July through 2 August 2026, offering exclusive merchandise, special catalogue deals, and a post box where fans can submit letters to The Red Hand Files. Duke of York's Picturehouse is also showing five movies personally chosen by Cave over the weekend, while travellers entering Brighton Station can hear newly recorded announcements featuring the frontman’s voice.
"I am thrilled beyond words to return to my beloved Brighton with The Bad Seeds to play Preston Park," Nick Cave added. "It’s a homecoming!"
