Review & Photography by Robert Barrett

After the long-awaited release of their debut album Pain to Power, Mancunian post-punk jazz four-piece Maruja visited the Castle and Falcon to celebrate a huge new chapter for the band, who’ve been generating buzz all over the place.

Kicking off proceedings with Bloodsport, Maruja sent a powerful call to action and took no prisoners.

The band didn’t shy away from showing their support for the people of Palestine, igniting a chant that the crowd echoed back with overwhelming passion. True to the spirit of their debut, Maruja remain deeply engaged with questions of power, always ready to confront systems that fail the communities they affect. One of the night’s standout moments came during their sweeping performance of ‘Look Down on Us’, where Wilkinson unleashed raw, furious imagery of the predatory figures who exploit others. It’s unmistakable that this track has resonated with the audience.