Gig news, band stories and retro-pop sparkle
Load-in at two, doors at seven, and a whole lot of superstition in between. We spent a run of 2026 dates shadowing the Bonnettes' pre-show routine and ranking every ritual by how much it actually contributes to the magic — from the kettle protocol to the huddle nobody is allowed to interrupt.
Every Bonnettes setlist has its showstoppers — but tucked away at track four of an EP or the back of a charity-shop tour are five songs still waiting for their moment. Here is the case for each, plus how to vote for the deep-cut encore you want to hear in 2026.
The Bonnettes’ retro-pop sparkle and maximalist hooks are often filed under ‘guilty pleasure’. In 2026, that label is doing the band — and the UK’s idea of serious pop — a disservice. Big choruses, bright costumes and unironic crowd joy are craft, not a cover-up.
Bonnie’s between-song patter is the Bonnettes’ secret weapon: the bit that turns a Friday-night UK crowd from a room full of separate conversations into a single listening thing. Here is the definitive ranking of the classic monologue types by how effectively they hush a venue before the next chorus.
A fond tour through five underrated UK towns and the rooms that would suit the Bonnettes’ retro-pop sparkle in 2026. Fans and promoters, this is your open invitation to make the case for your corner of the country.
A backstage trawl through six Bonnettes favourites that changed shape on the 2026 live circuit, from slower tempos and new intros to the moments where the crowd simply took the wheel. We look at what shifted, why it worked and which live version deserves a proper studio airing.
Bonnie lays down the unofficial rulebook for a Bonnettes night out, from dressing for the photos you’ll regret to handling a dropped glitter hairclip with dignity. It’s part gig guide, part survival manual and entirely tongue-in-cheek.
A scrappy rehearsal-room demo, a B-side that nearly got cut and a crowd chant nobody planned: this is the unlikely story of the Bonnettes’ most-requested song. We trace ‘Half-Past Heartbreak’ from a Leeds demo to live-set closer.
November 2026 is shaping up as a quietly brilliant month for intimate retro-pop shows across the UK. Here is why the darker evenings, smaller rooms and calmer crowds make it a smarter choice than the December scrum.
Bonnie shares her thrift-flip stories and a practical checklist for building a 1960s and 70s-inspired stage wardrobe from UK charity shops, market stalls and online finds. Sparkle does not need a big budget, just a sharp eye and a willingness to rummage.