How The Heavy Heavy got SLO Brew Rock dancing on a Wednesday
While for most it was a normal work-week evening, those packed inside SLO Brew Rock May 13 found themselves swept into a full-blown groove fest. Put on by (((folkYEAH!))), British rock band The Heavy Heavy brought their mix of folk rock and psychedelia to San Luis Obispo, turning the venue into a hazy dance floor of tambourines, perfect harmonies and extended instrumentals.
Formed by songwriters Georgie Fuller and William Turner, the band carries a relatively short discography, but its identity already feels unmistakable. Drawing inspiration from classic rock of the ’60s and ’70s, the group has created something wonderfully nostalgic yet fresh that is gaining traction internationally.
The evening began with Lou Hazel, a North Carolina-based folk artist who took the stage alone with just an acoustic guitar and a single spotlight. Opening with “Carolina (Out Of My Mind),” Hazel established an intimate showing of eyes-shut fingerpicking and deeply personal lyricism.
Throughout his set, Hazel moved between songs from his two released albums and stories from his Appalachian upbringing, including a brief and witty 60-second tune about his dad. His voice carried a rough warmth that felt wise beyond his years, as he moved effortlessly between haunting melodies and playful rhymes. By the end of the set, he had gently prepared the crowd for the performance that would follow.
When The Heavy Heavy finally emerged, they wasted no time introducing themselves. Instead, the five-piece launched straight into an extended rock-and-roll instrumental as rainbow lights swirled across the stage.
They transitioned from “Miles and Miles” into their 2023 debut “Life and Life Only” before rolling directly into “Lemonade” off their 2024 follow-up album “One Of A Kind.” Every song carrying the same loose, hypnotic energy.
“Thanks for having us in your city — town? Town!” Fuller said, addressing the audience for the first time and briefly breaking free from what seemed like a complete musical trance.
As songs bled into one another, there was constant movement on stage. Members swapped instruments mid-set, and Fuller flipped her hair to drawn-out psychedelic instrumentals. During “Miracle Sun,” the audience danced away their midweek troubles.
Then came “Happiness,” where the crowd clapped along before the band launched into its most beloved song, “Go Down River.” The room softened as audience members closed their eyes and sang along to the soulful chorus:
“Go down river
Won’t you go down river with me
Walk into heaven
Don’t look back.”
Throughout the set, the band played fan favorites alongside a few brand-new songs. At one point, all five members gathered around a single microphone with only an acoustic guitar between them. In the two songs they played like this, their harmonies were so tightly woven and effortless that it felt like they had achieved the impossible as their voices blended so naturally together.
The band performed a crowd-pleasing cover of Father John Misty’s “Real Love Baby” before closing out the night with a few more tracks and exiting the stage.
“Until we see each other again, take care of each other!” the band shouted to their San Luis Obispo fans, who will do just that.
