Pulp’s rare deep cuts live at End Of The Road 2026
The legends of Britpop, Pulp and Jarvis Cocker, recently offered fans a nostalgic and wonderfully deep dive at the End Of The Road festival. Closing the mainstage, the duo delivered a performance that felt less like a concert and more like an unearthing of musical history, complete with rarities and a tantalizing hint of the future.
The setlist was a masterclass in revisiting the classics while introducing rare gems. It was a journey back through the band’s catalogue, featuring live debuts of tracks like ‘Deep Fried In Kelvin’ from their seminal 1995 album ‘Different Class’. This moment alone solidified the performance as an event for music lovers everywhere.
Beyond the deep cuts, the performance served as a celebration of their enduring legacy. The band dusted off iconic tracks they hadn’t played in years, including ‘Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)’—a first performance since 2012—and ‘Forever in My Dreams’, which hadn’t been played since 2000. They also revisited the drama of their history by playing ‘The Mark of the Devil’ and ‘Death II’ for the first time since 1992, alongside their beloved anthem ‘We Are the Boyz’, which was their first public performance since 1998.
Adding a touch of celebratory whimsy, Cocker even sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to mark the festival’s 20th anniversary, accompanied by a slideshow chronicling the band’s history. It was a touching way to wrap up an evening dedicated to timeless music.
As the curtain closed on the performance, Jarvis Cocker offered a candid note to his fans, suggesting that this might be their “last gig for a while,” though he immediately added the reassuring caveat: “But not for ever.” This sentiment perfectly captures the reflective spirit of a band looking back on a celebrated career.
The celebration extended beyond the stage. Pulp are currently channeling their energy into new creative ventures, including the upcoming concert film, What Do You Do For An Encore?, which is set for release in cinemas and on MUBI soon. This project captures the raw essence of the band, providing an immersive experience for audiences.
Meanwhile, the band has also been busy with new material, including a recently released EP featuring two new songs: ‘Marrying For Love’ and ‘Cold Call On The Hotline’. While the creative process continues, the band has indicated a focus on a more contained release, perhaps an EP or a single, rather than a full new album, showing a mature appreciation for their existing catalogue.
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