5,000 Fans, £1 Tickets: Only The Poets Make a Statement at Brixton Academy

Straight off the back of their debut album release, Reading-based Only The Poets sold out their biggest show to date at the iconic O2 Academy Brixton. Having previously housed the legendary likes of The Clash, Kasabian and Coldplay, the band stepped onto the stage with confidence to mark the biggest night of their career so far.

Even before the night itself, the band were making headlines for a bold statement about accessibility to live music by charging just £1 per ticket. Not only was it a celebration of their album release, but it was also a determined spotlight on the rising costs of attending shows. “Live music is not a luxury. Let’s keep it accessible,” was the message draped across the huge curtain framing the entire stage, a backdrop determined to remind you of the purpose of this monumental night. To capture the night more inclusively, the band also ran an open application for aspiring live music photographers to learn the ropes from their own creative director, with the support of hired gear and industry professionals. Removing barriers to entry that so many aspiring creatives face when trying to pursue a career in live music.

The night was made even more heartfelt by the inclusion of two support acts, both champions of their battle-of-the-bands style competition run leading up to the show. While only one was originally intended to be crowned winner, lead singer Tommy Longhurst declared it too hard to choose between the two equally brilliant acts, Seren and Belle Dame. Having survived a series of fan-voting rounds, many of their loyal supporters were cheering them on from the front of the crowd, both expressing their gratitude for being given the opportunity to play such an legendary stage.

For a band with only a few years of experience, Belle Dame took to the stage with surprising ease. Winning over the audience with crowd work and an infectious energy, their indie sound served as the perfect warm-up. Most notable was their latest single Tennessee, equal parts polished and incredibly catchy. Seren marked a notable shift in atmosphere. Her warm and soulful spirit moved the crowd into something more mellowed, yet fully present to appreciate her angelic vocal. Joined on stage by her band, she punctuated her short set with heartfelt remarks on how surreal it felt for someone from a small town to be playing such a huge and important show in London.

Finally, the instantly recognisable melodies of I Keep On Messing It Up welcomed the headliners onto stage, and the crowd erupted into instant celebration, paired with a perfectly timed sea of orange confetti. From there, the setlist unfolded into a well-paced hour and a half showcasing the band’s best and boldest work, combining old favourites with selections from their freshly released debut And I’d Do It Again. Songs played included high-energy opening numbers like Over & Over and Emotionally Hungover, alongside newer album tracks like Bad and Freeze, all greeted by a dedicated fanbase enthusiastically echoing every lyric back at them, despite having only had a few days to soak up their new material before the gig. 

A particularly delicate moment came when Madeline allowed the band to soften the mood. Stripped back to just Tommy’s voice and a gentle guitar, it was a moment that captured the emotional core of their music. Whether you were a die-hard fan or someone brought along on a whim, it was difficult not to be swept up in the contagious spirit seeping out of everyone in the vicinity. Already infectiously catchy, Saké was a standout and served as an exclamation point in the band’s repertoire, translating beautifully live. Gone By Now also took on new significance in the crowded venue, arms waved in unison around me while the sentiment was belted out by thousands. 

After a brief intermission, the band encored with the celebratory JUMP!, finally concluding the night with the rather fittingly titled Emotional. More than anything, Only The Poets headlining Brixton O2 set the tone for their career moving forward. Having honed their craft through years of putting hours in at local venues, there’s an obvious desire to protect the spaces that gave them that platform to grow. In an age of resale wars and extortionate VIP prices, we can only hope this night marks a swing in the other direction. Only The Poets deserve every bit of recognition and praise coming their way, not only for their debut album but for the bold statement they have made on protecting the accessibility of live music.