Brighton Centre – 5th October 2025
5 stars
The Kooks had arrived back in Brighton and from the first strum, it was clear this was going to be a night to remember. The audience was instantly swept up, singing along to every note and swaying in unison.
Luke Pritchard took the stage with that familiar grin and a confidence that immediately set the tone. His voice carried all the grit, charm and vulnerability fans have come to love, cutting through the mix with a natural ease. The guitars snapped crisply, the bass held the groove steady, and Alexis Nunez’s drums propelled everything forward, giving the performance a momentum that never faltered.
Songs like Always Where I Need to Be and Bad Habit had the crowd bouncing, while slower moments showed the band’s softer side. See Me Now was especially poignant. Luke sat at the piano and dedicated the song to his late father, the quiet intensity in his performance transforming the arena into a surprisingly intimate space.
The setlist struck a brilliant balance between nostalgia and fresh material. Classics such as She Moves In Her Own Way, Eddie’s Gun and Westside were met with full-throated singalongs, while newer tracks from Never/Know, including Sunny Baby and Junk of the Heart (Happy), slotted in seamlessly. There was no awkwardness between the old and new; instead, the mix kept the evening lively and unpredictable.
One of the highlights came with Seaside, the band’s love letter to Brighton. The encore brought the house down. Ooh La had everyone dancing and singing, and Naïve closed the night perfectly. Even after all these years, the song still packs a punch, and the crowd’s chorus felt almost louder than the band themselves. That shared joy, the feeling of everyone being in on something special, is what made the night stand out.
Luke, Hugh Harris and Alexis played with obvious camaraderie, bouncing off each other and keeping the energy high without ever feeling forced. This is a band that has grown without losing its spark. They know how to build a song live, how to draw a crowd in, and how to balance showmanship with honesty.
If there was a minor quibble, it was that the 26-song set sometimes felt quite long for casual listeners. But diehard fans got a full journey through the band’s catalogue, and the production was always in service of the music rather than flashy distractions.
By the final note, it was clear that The Kooks still have that special spark. Brighton felt like a homecoming, a party thrown by friends who know how to have a good time, and a reminder that this band remains as fun and compelling as ever.
