Cootie Catcher Brings Indie Pop to Brighton

Cootie Catcher's story begins in Mississauga, near Toronto, where the band emerged as a creative outlet for Anita Fowl and Nolan Jakupovski during the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. The couple, who are also a musical duo, began making music together, later recruiting Sophia Chavez to join their ranks. With the addition of drummer Joseph Shemoun, the band's sound began to take shape, blending the optimism of '00s buzz bands with the hyperpop-style maximalism of 'laptop twee' acts.

Their music is characterized by its hypercharged tenderness, with spiraling synths and giddy electronics adding a layer of excitement to their twee pop sound. The band's latest album, Something We All Got, is their first studio-recorded album, and it showcases their ability to craft songs that are both sweet and nervous, with a sense of expectancy that beams out unguarded. With songs like "Quarter Note Rock" and "Gingham Dress", the band demonstrates their ability to balance euphoric guitars and bubbly synth lines with raw, often uneasy sentiments.

The band's sound is not just about the music, but also about the emotions and experiences that drive it. Sophia Chavez, Anita Fowl, and Nolan Jakupovski share songwriting duties, and their lyrics explore themes of romance, friendship, city life, and the pressures of modern work. Their music is a reflection of their own experiences and emotions, and it is this vulnerability that makes their sound so compelling.

Cootie Catcher will be performing at The Hope & Ruin in Brighton on Sunday, 1 November 2026, with support from Of Iyrn. Tickets and details for the show are available with the button beside this article. With their unique sound and energetic performance, Cootie Catcher is sure to deliver an unforgettable show.

The band's latest album, Something We All Got, has received critical acclaim, with Pitchfork describing it as the first studio-quality record from the Toronto twee-pop quartet. The album has also been placed on the 2026 Polaris Music Prize Long List, a testament to the band's growing reputation in the music scene. With their performance at The Hope & Ruin, Cootie Catcher is set to bring their energetic and emotive sound to Brighton, and it is an opportunity not to be missed.