A summer evening in the forest
There are few bands better suited to a summer evening in Delamere Forest than The Kooks.
As the Cheshire woodland venue filled beneath clear skies, Liverpool indie favourites Circa Waves delivered an energetic support set that quickly won over the growing crowd. Their blend of catchy hooks and driving guitar riffs provided the perfect soundtrack to a warm June evening. By the time the headline act arrived, the atmosphere was already building nicely.
As if the evening needed any more energy, England’s World Cup encounter with Croatia was unfolding at the same time. Each England goal sent ripples of excitement through the crowd as updates spread between songs. The Kooks were quick to embrace the unusual backdrop, breaking into a few lines of “It’s Coming Home” and getting one of the biggest cheers of the night. It was spontaneous, good-humoured and perfectly captured the mood of the evening.
Then came the main event.
Luke Pritchard emerged wearing dark sunglasses, burgundy flared jeans and a fitted black lace shirt. Against the backdrop of towering trees and fading evening light, he immediately made an impression. Yet despite the rock star look, there was something refreshingly relaxed about the performance that followed.
Twenty years on from the release of Inside In / Inside Out, The Kooks could easily have become trapped by nostalgia. Instead, what unfolded was a celebration of songs that have grown with both the band and its audience.
Throughout the evening, Pritchard reflected on the group’s early days in Brighton. Introducing one song, he recalled writing it in an old bakery two decades ago. These stories never felt overly nostalgic. Instead, they showed just how far these songs have travelled since their beginnings in Brighton.
Songs that span generations
The band’s appeal across generations was clear throughout the night. Familiar favourites had the whole forest singing along.
Naïve delivered one of the loudest reactions of the evening, while She Moves In Her Own Way transported the crowd straight back to the band’s breakthrough years. Shine On proved another highlight, with voices echoing around the woodland venue as the audience enthusiastically joined in.
For me, the inclusion of Sway was particularly special. It has always been one of my favourite Kooks songs and served as a reminder that some of the band’s finest moments have lived beyond the obvious hits.
Standing alongside my son and watching him sing every lyric word perfect was a powerful reminder of the band’s lasting appeal.
These were not just songs that defined a moment in time. They had found a whole new audience. Looking across the crowd, it was clear we were not the only family sharing that experience. Long-time fans and younger listeners were united by the same songs.
An emotional centrepiece
The most emotional moment of the night came with See Me Now.
Written by Pritchard about the father he lost when he was just three years old, the song provided a striking contrast to the carefree indie anthems that surrounded it. Beneath the Delamere canopy, the performance felt deeply personal despite the thousands in attendance.
For me, it was the standout moment of the night. As the song unfolded, the vast outdoor venue seemed to shrink. It became one of those rare live music moments where everyone appeared completely caught up in the performance.
It was moving, honest and a reminder that beneath The Kooks’ infectious melodies sits a songwriter willing to tackle life’s more difficult emotions.
Still going strong after 20 years
That balance between exuberance and vulnerability has always been one of The Kooks’ greatest strengths. While many bands from the same era relied heavily on swagger, The Kooks paired memorable hooks with emotional honesty. Two decades later, that combination still resonates.
As darkness settled over Delamere Forest, the band delivered the kind of performance that showed exactly why they have endured. The songs remain irresistibly melodic, Pritchard remains a captivating frontman, and the connection between band and audience feels as strong as ever.
Twenty years after their breakthrough, The Kooks are not simply revisiting their past.
They are proving that the qualities which made them special in the first place, vulnerability, romance and exceptional songwriting, have stood the test of time.
