Looks like Christmas came early, which it did for over 6,000 fans as indie-rock stalwarts The Wombats rocked the Bournemouth International Centre on Sunday night.
The band’s catalogue spans back to 2007, with A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation still featuring some of their most anthemic tracks. Following the release of their melodic new record, Oh! The Ocean, they’ve finally stepped up to the UK arena circuit, part of which they toured earlier this year, including a night at London’s O2 Arena. Now they’ve returned to keep the celebrations going as the year winds down, joined by excellent support acts Overpass and The Snuts.
The set unfolded exactly as you’d expect: a full-on celebration spanning their entire career, with the biggest tracks littered expertly to keep the energy flowing. Sorry I’m late, I didn’t want to Come opened the show, and from there an electrifying wave of anthems sent the crowd into a frenzy. Moving to New York, Cheetah Tongue, & Techno Fan, the songs everyone was here for, hit one after another.
With a steady stream of hits woven between their newer material, the set had a refreshing range, the king of variety bands at their level is often praised for. Older fans revelled in deeper cuts like Kate Moss and Patricia the Stripper, while Bournemouth embraced the more recent tracks like Can’t Say No, Holy Sugar, and My Head is Not My Friend, all of which were warmly received. Pairing Pink Lemonade alongside Kill the Director ignited huge sing-alongs, with the crowd repeatedly overpowering Matthew Murphy’s vocals.
The band nailed the pacing of the show, pausing for an intimate moment between Murphy and the audience as Lethal Combination slowed things down, phone lights glowing across the room. It proved to be the calm before a relentless run of anthems. Blood on the Hospital Floor and Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) sent the crowd into chaos, and Method to the Madness pushed things further with its explosive climax, opening up mosh pits across the floor. The atmosphere was a delirious euphoria, guided by the band’s seasoned command of the stage. With the arsenal of songs they’ve built, there isn’t a festival crowd on earth they couldn’t conquer.
If You Ever Leave (I’m Coming With You) drew an animated reaction from the Bournemouth crowd, who seemed determined to pour every last bit of energy into making their Sunday night unforgettable. Turn brought the entire room together in a jubilant wave, friends on shoulders, hands stretched high, and giant balloons tumbling down on the chorus. It was a genuine highlight of the evening.
After a brief encore, with balloons still bouncing overhead, the trio launched into their final two heavy hitters. Greek Tragedy, a song personal standout, once again united the whole crowd; you can tell it’s built for festivals when people aren’t just shouting the lyrics but living them. Let’s Dance to Joy Division tore the roof of the place, and it was refreshing to see how much passion the band still has for playing it after all these years. Balloons soared, people dressed as Wombats danced onto the stage while shooting out confetti, and it was obvious the entire production had levelled up, primed for the arena stage.
The show felt like a richly decorated journey through the band’s vast history, with the talent of all three musicians shining from start to finish as they welcomed Bournemouth like old friends reuniting. With 2026 already promising festival headline slots and whispers of new music, the band that never stops delivering looks stronger than ever. As the song suggests, It won’t get better than this, but what if it did?
