The Kooks dazzle in spectacular outdoor London gig
There were fireworks over the Thames last night as The Kooks delivered a spectacular show at London’s historic Old Royal Naval College.
As part of Labyrinth on the Thames, the band played a special concert to ring in the 20th anniversary of their pivotal debut, ‘Inside In/Inside Out’, an album that helped define British indie music. Classics including She Moves In Her Own Way and You Don’t Love Me, sparked mass singalongs from the 10,000-strong crowd.
After a chorus of Sweet Caroline, the band hit the stage with the high-octane Sofa Song, instantly setting the outdoor crowd in motion.
Eddie’s Gun and She Moves In Her Own Way kept the collective energy at a high, while recent single Sunny Baby served as a reminder of the band’s ongoing ability to connect with huge songs.
Frontman Luke Pritchard was clearly moved by the occasion. It was a homecoming of sorts, as Pritchard grew up in part in nearby Forest Hill.
Around midway through the set, he spoke to the crowd, saying, “You guys are beautiful. You’re unbelievable. I’m an emotional guy, and I might start tearing up. This is amazing.”
Taking to the piano, he explained, “I wrote this next song when the band was trying out new things. I was doing a lot of soul searching in my life, and I realised the whole reason why I make music and write songs, is because of my Dad. I lost my Dad when I was a kid; I was three years old. We actually used to live in Forest Hill, just down the road. He left me a box of records and a Gibson Les Paul.”
He added, “So this song goes out to anyone who’s missing someone today or feeling lost. This is for you. This is ‘See Me Now’.”
The entire crowd lit up with phone lights while the band played the powerful ballad, mainly led by the frontman’s keys and vocals.
In another tender moment, Pritchard serenaded the audience with the stripped-back favourite Seaside, recalling the early days when the band were writing their debut album. Introducing the song, he said: “We were living in Brighton, and we used to rehearse in this old bread factory. I remember sitting outside one day, looking out at the sea.”
The set closed with an encore of the era-defining anthems Ooh La and Naive, as fireworks lit up the River Thames behind the stage, cementing the band’s status as a cornerstone of modern British guitar music and sparking one final mass singalong.
‘Inside In/Inside’ catapulted the band into fame, selling more than 2 million copies and helping define an era of music. Two decades since their debut, The Kooks are resonating with a whole new generation. With sold-out tours and epic returns to festival main stages, the band has firmly cemented their place in the hearts of Gen Z fans.
Last year saw the group perform their biggest ever headline shows, which included a sold-out show at Manchester’s Co-op Live, described by The Guardian as a “triumphant and touching mass singalong”, and culminated in a career-defining performance at London’s O2 Arena.
In May of last year, The Kooks released their seventh studio album, ‘Never/Know’. Their highest charting body of work since 2008, ‘Never/Know’ landed at number 5 in the UK album charts. The album’s first single was selected as Radio X’s ‘Record of the Week’. NME referred to single welcoming in “The new era of The Kooks”.
Indie favourites, Circa Waves took on main support duties, successfully hyping up the crowd with much-loved bangers, T-Shirt Weather and Movies. Frontman Kieran Shuddall shared his appreciation for the headliners, telling the crowd, “Half of this set is ripped off The Kooks; so I owe them alot.”
Earlier, Sunderland’s Tom A. Smith helped build momentum with frenetic onstage presence, showcasing the recent EP, Put On A Record Tommy.
Girl In The Year Above won hearts with Jennifer Ball’s soaring vocal and onstage rapport. She told the crowd, “I’d like to thank The Kooks for everything they’ve done for me. They’re beautiful and you’re going to have a great night.”
Earlier sets from Danny Griffiths and Granada completed a lineup which perfectly complemented The Kooks‘ celebration of their debut.