Photo + Words: Kate Warby

A room primed for a night of jumping off the walls from the get-go, with support acts Will Parker and The North warming up the crowd with rambunctious energy. This continued as they kept the full room on a high with crowd favourites like ‘Mamma Mia‘ and Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now‘.

They captured the room’s attention when Seb’s full band, without him, made their entrance. Violinist Kate began playing, placing the crowd in a trance ahead of the lead singer’s arrival. It showcased her range, sharply contrasting the high-energy songs she would play later. Seb entered to a roar, joining in on a crowd favourite already underway. The first two songs maintained this intensity, and just as it seemed it could not build further, the setlist proved otherwise.

He showed clear dedication to his fans, interacting with those at the barrier throughout, from slower, more compassionate moments to upbeat songs with stronger messages, highlighting shared purpose in his lyricism. One example is ‘Hitler‘, where taboo themes are explored through energetic performance, almost propagandist in delivery, raising questions about whether listeners overlook or engage more deeply with its message.

The tone then softened for the next few tracks, shifting the room into a warm, supportive space as fans sang along to the newly released ‘One Day to Live‘. To close this section, Seb introduced one of his oldest songs, written at 16 with Kate. Though he admitted much of his early work would not resurface, this one endures, perhaps for the brightness it brings when tackling something as relatable as the ‘Human Race‘. The thought behind the setlist became clear again as he lifted the audience toward the finale. He began with the buoyant unreleased ‘People Like You‘, giving fans a glimpse of what is ahead.

This renewed energy merged with heightened passion in the final songs, many centred on the state of the world. Placing them last gave them lasting impact. He stepped offstage to perform ‘Westerner‘ and ‘Terms and Conditions‘ among the crowd, reinforcing a sense of shared reality. In a standout moment, the packed O2 Academy sang the final line of ‘Terms and Conditions‘ for him.

The most anticipated track of the night followed, as the crowd moved in unison, the drummer setting the pace while the room held its breath. An extended intro allowed Seb to thank the band, building tension in an unusual but effective way that amplified the room’s energy.

The night ended on a high while keeping focus on Seb Lowe’s lyricism and controversial themes that resonate with many young fans. His rapid rise is evident, with a sold-out O2 Academy Oxford on this tour and his first headline run. His music reflects societal concerns, and having built a following through social media, it is clear his views connect with his audience, sometimes still taboo. With the venue packed and poster proceeds donated to charity, the band’s actions matched their message.