Panchiko live at Rock City on Thursday 22 October 2026
Hailing from Nottingham in the late 1990s, Panchiko formed as a group of teenage friends with big ideas: vocalist/guitarist Owain Davies, guitarist/keyboardist Andy Wright, bassist Shaun Ferreday and drummer John.They spent their youth recording demos in basements and bedrooms, and in 2000 self-released their EP D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L on CD-R (just around 30 copies).
Despite their efforts, the EP drew almost no attention at the time. The band disbanded by 2001 as life took over Uni, jobs, separate paths. But here’s where the legend kicks in: in 2016 a copy of the EP was found in a charity shop in Sherwood and shared on the message board 4chan. The disc was degraded (“disc-rot” audio, distorted) which only added to the mystery.
Fast-forward to 2020: the band members were found by fans, the old material was remastered and reissued, and Panchiko re-emerged with purpose. Since then they’ve released new full-length albums, toured internationally, and built a cult but widely-respected following. It’s one of those rare “internet-mystery becomes real band” stories.
Their music plays at the crossroads of dreamy shoegaze, indie rock, nostalgic lo-fi and modern production. Shimmering guitars, hazy vocals, emotional hooks and a subtle undercurrent of 1990s influences and anime/otaku aesthetic.
Recent Reviews
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“What started as a chance discovery in a small Nottingham charity shop has now developed into a cult global fan-base that will undoubtedly change the lives of Panchiko’s band members forever.” – VICE
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“Panchiko’s Ginkgo is a masterclass in balance. It’s atmospherically lush, emotionally delicate, and it weaves between limbs of angular guitar tones like the sunlight that trickles in and out of the trees you might lay under…” – FLOOD Magazine