Commuters passing through **St. Pancras International** were treated to an unexpected festive spectacle today as **The Darkness** delivered a surprise, stripped-back live performance on the station concourse.
Frontman **Justin Hawkins** took charge of vocals and piano duties, while his brother **Dan Hawkins**—recently noted for his fondness for Yungblud—handled acoustic guitar. Together, the Hawkins brothers transformed one of London’s busiest transport hubs into a festive singalong, drawing smiles, phones, and spontaneous applause from rushing travellers.
At the heart of the impromptu set was a delicate, pared-down rendition of the band’s seasonal staple **Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)**, a track that has become a perennial fixture of the UK’s Christmas soundtrack. The band also surprised onlookers with a heartfelt cover of **Mistletoe and Wine**, paying tribute to **Cliff Richard** and adding a nostalgic glow to the festive moment.
The unexpected performance didn’t stop there. Fans were delighted as The Darkness dipped into their wider catalogue, performing crowd-pleasers including **I Believe In A Thing Called Love**, **Givin’ Up**, and **Friday Night**. Even in acoustic form, the band’s trademark flamboyance and melodic punch cut through the echoing station hall.
Justin Hawkins, sporting an Obituary *Slowly We Rot* T-shirt, summed up the spirit of the performance with his trademark theatrical flair. “As Santa prepares to fly his reindeer-fuelled sleigh of slays across the night sky, thence to squeeze his tubby frame down the exhaust flues of the nation’s central heating boilers,” he proclaimed, “so we, The Darkness, dust off our Christmas songs in readiness for a glut of celebration!”
He added: “And what better place to celebrate than Britain’s favourite railway station?! As the commuters hurry by, mince pies crushed in their frozen palms, we are filled with joy to tickle the ivories of Christmas Warmth, and strum upon the Lute of Festive Light.”
For those who missed the magical moment, footage of the performance is available via the link in the comments—proof that even the busiest commute can be transformed by a little unexpected rock ’n’ roll Christmas cheer. 🎄🎸
