The Kooks formed in Brighton in 2004, blending brisk indie pop with acoustic charm and crisp guitar lines. Their identity leans on the singer's elastic tenor and the guitarist's bright, jangly hooks, with rhythms that skip rather than stomp. Expect a set that tips toward Inside In/Inside Out favorites, likely including Naive, She Moves in Her Own Way, Always Where I Need to Be, and Junk of the Heart (Happy).

Breezy guitars, quick steps

At a forest show, you get uni-era friends, thirtysomethings reliving early gigs, and newer fans who found the band through playlists, all mixing easily. Early arrivals lounge on blankets, then edge forward at dusk when the up-tempo singles hit and the handclaps get loud.

Little histories, big choruses

Trivia heads will know the band took its name from the song Kooks on Hunky Dory, and that the debut was recorded at London's Konk Studios with a seasoned producer. Everything above about songs and production flourishes is informed by recent tours and could shift on the night.

Forest culture, indie memories

Around the grounds you see vintage football tops, soft denim, and bucket hats, but also plenty of practical layers for the chill after dark. Fans trade song stories from first flats and road trips, and there is a gentle, social flow between groups.

Sing along, but keep it tuneful

When She Moves in Her Own Way starts, you hear clean harmonies from the crowd rather than shouting, which keeps the mix clear. Naive turns into a call-and-response, with the first chorus often left to the audience before the band kicks full volume. Merch leans retro, with Inside In/Inside Out era fonts and forest-date tees that feel like a nod to old tour posters.

Afterglow on the path out

People stick around after the last song to hum riffs on the walk out, and the vibe feels more like neighbors than strangers.

Tight grooves, brighter chords, and singable shapes

Live, The Kooks keep vocals upfront, with the singer leaning into a light rasp on choruses and a conversational tone on verses. Guitars split roles, one chiming high arpeggios and the other strumming open chords to thicken the beat. The rhythm section favors quick, springy patterns that lift the songs without crowding the vocal.

Pace that nudges the chorus higher

They often bump the tempo a notch on older singles so the hooks land with more snap. A neat detail is the frequent use of capos to brighten chord shapes, which helps the acoustic sit above the kit without extra volume.

Small switches, big payoffs

Expect tiny arrangement tweaks, like a drop-out before a final chorus or a double-length outro that lets the crowd sing the lead. Lighting tends to follow the music, warm ambers for the mid-tempo sway and cool blues for leaner verses, with quick strobe hits saved for the biggest refrains.

Kindred hooks for indie-pop diehards

Fans of Arctic Monkeys will recognize the punchy, concise guitar writing and the pocket grooves that make mid-tempo songs feel nimble.

Same era, shared instincts

The Wombats bring a similar candy-coated chorus style and pogo-ready beats that suit outdoor shows. If you like the clean, danceable polish and tight syncopation of Two Door Cinema Club, this set scratches that itch without going full electronic.

Festival-tested melody lines

The Vaccines connect on the brisk, major-key shout-alongs and the slightly ragged charm that keeps things human. Together these acts orbit the same festival-friendly lane where melody leads, guitars chime, and the crowd becomes part of the rhythm.