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Live Reviews
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5 Seconds of Summer – O2 Arena
It’s hard to believe that 5 Seconds of Summer are now 15 years into their musical journey, but fresh from last year’s new album EVERYONE’S A STAR! they are, sonically, at their peak. Their return to what lead singer Luke Hemmings called their “second home”, London, on Thursday night marked a phenomenal balance of musical maturity and the same boyish bravado that earned them their fame in the first place. It was chaos, it was hilarious, it was a journey through their career with all the self-deprecation and fan service you couldn’t help but love.
Takedown Festival 2026
Two days, multiple stages, and a lineup that perfectly captured the past, present, and future of alternative music. Takedown Festival 2026 didn’t just meet expectations; it completely raised the bar.
Across both days, Portsmouth Guildhall became a hub of energy, nostalgia, and discovery, showcasing a brilliant mix of established names and rising UK talent, and proving once again why Takedown remains one of the most vital fixtures in the alternative music calendar.
Photo Review: Twin Skeletons, Artio & High Regard – The Croft, Bristol
Twin Skeletons were in town at The Croft in Bristol, as part of their UK tour. Tonight they…
Gorillaz – M&S Bank Arena Liverpool
Trying to summarise a Gorillaz show feels impossible. It’s never just a gig, it’s a collision of worlds. Animation meets reality, nostalgia meets constant reinvention, and at the centre of it all is Damon Albarn, orchestrating chaos with a grin that never leaves his face.
Leon Thomas – O2 Academy Bristol
Certain moments in music don’t quite feel real until you take a second to step back and process them. Standing in the O2 Academy Bristol, watching Leon Thomas walk out on stage, was one of those moments.
The Cribs – Concorde2, Brighton
Jake also recommended that they sounded better live, so, after a few enjoyable listens, I happily trotted down to the Concorde 2 on a blustery Friday night in Brighton to find out.
The Cribs – Tramshed, Cardiff
At Tramshed Cardiff, this felt less like a midweek gig and more like a room full of people reconnecting with something that still matters: no big production, no distractions, just a band and a crowd completely on the same page.
Richard Ashcroft – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
Richard Ashcroft’s current run may have officially begun back in Manchester last November, but Cardiff marked the point where things properly picked up again, the second date as the tour rolls into 2026.
Del Water Gap – O2 Institute, Birmingham
While the Brooklyn-based indie-pop starlet has been known for his catchy and bubbly tunes that have soundtracked thousands of people’s playlists, Holden decided to pull things back and show his more vulnerable and emotionally mature side.
Asha Banks – Roundhouse, London
London’s iconic Roundhouse was buzzing to welcome Asha Banks on her first-ever headline UK tour for her new EP ‘How Real Was It?’,