TURIN BRAKES + TOM SPEIGHT – CONCORDE 2, BRIGHTON 14.11.25
Turin Brakes’ appearance at Brighton’s Concorde 2 could be described as a homecoming of sorts, certainly for bassist Eddie Myer who has citywide connections and is a Senior Lecturer Brighton’s acclaimed BIMM and Gale from the band described the city as their second home. In fact, they played their first ever gig under the Turin Brakes moniker at the much-lamented Freebutt in Phoenix Place, Brighton at the end of the last century, so tonight was an intimate yet pulsating reminder of why the South London duo-turned-band has remained one of the UK’s most quietly consistent musical forces for well over two decades. Formed in the late ’90s by childhood friends Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, Turin Brakes first broke through with their Mercury-nominated debut ‘The Optimist’ LP, a record that helped define the early-2000s “new acoustic” movement.
Over the years, with Rob Allum on drums and Eddie on bass cementing the long-standing lineup, they have built a reputation for warm, intricate songwriting, soaring harmonies, and live performances that strike a balance between fragility and muscular power-packed guitar precision. With a catalogue now stretching across ten studio albums, they continue to draw devoted audiences who revel in both nostalgia and the band’s ever-renewing creative spark.
All of this history pulsed through a near-capacity Concorde 2, a venue whose size and warmth suited the band perfectly. From the moment they stepped onstage, the atmosphere hummed with anticipation from an audience made up of longtime followers, intrigued newcomers, and plenty of people who had clearly been waiting months for this night.
They opened with ‘Pays To Be Paranoid,’ an immediate jolt of tight rhythms and trademark harmonies that snapped the room to attention. Next up was ‘Spacehopper,’ the title track of the latest album, setting an early tone: energetic, confident, and playing as though they were still a hungry outfit with something to prove. The brilliant ‘Mind Over Money’ followed, its delicate beginnings growing into a crowd-swelling chorus. By the time ‘Future Boy’ drifted in, the night had settled into its stride – a blend of reflective stillness and rhythmic lift that Turin Brakes seem able to conjure so naturally.
‘Average Man’ and ‘Bye Pod’ kept the mood swirling between folk warmth and atmospheric depth, with Paridjanian’s guitar work cutting particularly sharp during the latter. ‘Apocolips’ gave things a darker, brooding edge before ‘The Message’ and ‘Emergency 72’ brought the unmistakable ‘Optimist’ era energy roaring back—both met with loud cheers and a sea of nodding heads, powered by Allum’s steady pulse and Myer’s warm, melodic bass lines.
Mid-set, the band eased into the gentler glow of 2016 single and personal favourite ‘Keep Me Around,’ its breezy feel bringing one of the night’s most unified sing-alongs. ‘We Were Here’ and ‘Last Chance’ added emotional range, the band stretching out sonically without losing the grounded intimacy of the evening. ‘Fishing For A Dream,’ always a live favourite, provided a shimmering highlight—wistful yet soaring, and delivered with a tenderness that hushed the entire venue.
As the main set neared its close, ‘Underdog (Save Me)’ surged with fresh energy, and ‘What’s Underneath’ capped everything with tight grooves and a sense of catharsis, earning a cheer that guaranteed an encore.
And so it proved, the band returned with ‘Lazy Bones,’ easing the crowd back in with gentle melancholy before slipping into ‘Feeling Oblivion,’ its harmonies as haunting as ever. But it was ‘Pain Killer (Summer Rain)’ their UK No.5 hit released in 2003 that lifted the room to its emotional peak – those unmistakable opening chords sparking cheers, phones raised, audience swaying. The performance was rich, heartfelt, and delivered with the effortless chemistry that this four-piece has honed over years on the road. A truly stunning track.
Following a brief on-stage selfie, for the final song, they chose ‘Isolation,’ its reflective tone serving as a thoughtful, resonant closer – one of those rare endings where applause breaks through slowly, as if the crowd wants to savour the last lingering notes before letting them go.
Turin Brakes at Concorde 2 was a reminder of why they continue to endure: a band deeply connected to their craft, their audience, and each other. They proved once again that their music both quietly powerful and emotionally direct, still hits with undiminished force.
Turin Brakes setlist:
‘Pays To Be Paranoid’
‘Spacehopper’
‘Mind Over Money’
‘Future Boy’
‘Average Man’
‘Bye Pod’
‘Apocolips’
‘The Message’
‘Emergency 72’
‘Keep Me Around’
‘We Were Here’
‘Last Chance’
‘Fishing For A Dream’
‘Underdog (Save Me)’
‘What’s Underneath’
(encore)
‘Lazy Bones’
‘Feeling Oblivion’
‘Pain Killer (Summer Rain)’
‘Isolation’
Support this evening was provided by London-based singer-songwriter Tom Speight, whose warm, melodic style proved an ideal match for the evening’s atmosphere. Speight has built a loyal following through his heartfelt lyricism, bright acoustic arrangements, and an easy stage presence and wonderful audience interaction. His set mixed gentle uplift with moments of reflective stillness, showcasing the clarity of his vocals and the charm of songs that feel both intimate and radio-ready. His performance included highlights from his latest album ‘Perfect Strangers’ and he remained engaging and generous between tracks, easily winning over the early-arrivals and providing a perfect lead-in to Turin Brakes’ performance.
