About This Event

Railcard Railcard formed in early 2025 when Rachel Love, Ian Button and Peter Momtchiloff realised they were all born within weeks of each other and joked that this was an excellent reason to form a new band together: shared history, the same pop references, parallel lives… The idea might have remained just that - but Rachel and Ian began writing songs together, Peter added his own into the list, and by the time the band made their live debut in December 2025 they had recruited their fourth member Allison Thomson and recorded two albums’ worth of material. Skep Wax Records in the UK and Slumberland in the US gave them a home straight away. Rachel Love (vocals, guitar, cello) started playing, writing and singing as a teenager in post punk/ pop band Dolly Mixture - who are cited as one of the major influences on modern indie pop, riot grrl etc - and in more recent years began a solo career with two acclaimed albums, and collaborations with Martin Newell, Exploding Flowers and more. Ian Button (vocals, drums) had a 20 year career as a guitarist, first with Thrashing Doves, then Death In Vegas, before switching to drumming, production, and writing for his own long-running project Papernut Cambridge. Ian is the drummer in the current lineup of Heavenly. Peter Momtchiloff (bass) was a founder member of Talulah Gosh and Heavenly, and since 1999 has been a member of the Would-be-goods, as well as more recently releasing material of his own as Tufthunter. Allison Thomson (trumpet, keys) formed her first teenage band The Sherbet Fountains in 1980s Kilmarnock. In her music career since she has played for the Trashcan Sinatras, Heist, and The Orchids, run a music school and studio in France, and recently guested on trumpet with The Love Band. Railcard’s individual musical DNA is easy to trace in the music - the Rachel and Ian’s songs mix up ingredients from their earlier projects, and Peter’s bear his hallmarks too. Their sound blends together shared lead vocals from Rachel and Ian, jangling guitars, sweet strings, organ and cool/oblique trumpet lines from Allison, plus a drive and punch from Peter and Ian’s rhythm section that steers into Motown, bubblegum pop/garage and more. Their songs celebrate getting older, but playfully dismiss nostalgia. There’s fun, friendship, kitchen sink adventure, smart love songs, and of course, songs about train travel.

Frequently asked questions

Staying overnight?

Hotels within walking distance of Pop Recs / Sonny's Coffee & Kitchen.