Formed in Brighton, The Kooks grew out of art-school friendships and a love of crisp guitar pop.

From Brighton flats to big choruses

Their sound mixes breezy melodies, tight strums, and lyrics about messy romance that land fast and stick. Across shifting lineups over the years, the original singer and lead guitarist have kept the core feel consistent while the rhythm section evolved.

Likely moments and who shows up

Expect a set built around Naive, She Moves in Her Own Way, Ooh La, and Junk of the Heart (Happy), with newer cuts slotted as pace-changers. Crowds tend to be a blend of day-one fans now in their 30s and 40s and teens discovering the band through playlists, with striped tees, vintage trainers, and easy swaying replacing moshy chaos. Name trivia: the band took its moniker from the David Bowie song, and they were signed within months of forming after early buzz in Brighton rooms. Note: details about the songs performed and staging here are informed guesses, not confirmed plans.

The Kooks Crowd, Up Close

The scene skews casual and nostalgic, with thrifted cardigans, slim jeans, and low-top trainers next to clean polos and bucket hats.

Indie-sleaze touches, modern comfort

You will see a lot of striped tees and vintage jackets, but the mood is more friendly catch-up than costume party. Fans tend to sing full choruses, then drop to a hushed sway for quieter intros before clapping back in on two and four.

Shared rituals, no fuss

During Naive, the front third often handles the echo lines while the rest takes the main hook, and it lands like a simple choir. For She Moves in Her Own Way, the wordless hooks become a soft chant between verses, giving the band room to lean the groove. Merch trends lean toward ringer tees, totes, and poster designs that nod to mid-2000s fonts without looking retro for retro's sake. It feels like a scene built on songs first, where people trade favorite deep cuts and let the big ones be loud without pushy behavior.

How The Kooks Make It Snap Live

The singer's tenor sits light on top, with a slightly nasal color that cuts through even when the band is loud.

Hooks built on rhythm and restraint

Live, the guitars favor tight, percussive strums and simple lead lines, letting the bass carry small melodic hooks between vocal phrases. Drums stay dry and springy, nudging the tempos a notch faster than on record so choruses arrive quickly.

Small tweaks that land big live

Arrangements are trimmed for impact, often dropping keys or extra parts so each section hits clean and then gets out of the way. They sometimes open with a short acoustic Seaside vignette, then kick into full-band pace to frame the arc of the night. Expect a brief call-and-response extension in Naive, and a looser middle groove in She Moves in Her Own Way that lets the crowd clap on the backbeat. Lighting tends toward warm ambers and cool blues that mark dynamic shifts without stealing focus from the playing.

If You Like These, You'll Like The Kooks Too

Fans of Arctic Monkeys often click with The Kooks because both deliver punchy riffs and conversational lyrics from the mid-2000s UK wave.

Kindred guitar bands, same quick hit

If you like bright, danceable indie with clean guitar lines, Two Door Cinema Club is a clear neighbor. Pop-leaning hooks and upbeat crowd energy put The Wombats in the same lane for many listeners. The Libertines share the scruffy-romantic streak and big singalongs that make choruses feel communal.

Melody-first, groove-forward

For crisp tempos and no-filler arrangements, The Vaccines line up well with the way The Kooks keep songs tight on stage. These acts differ in tone, but they all favor melody first and keep the rhythm section driving without showy solos. If those traits hit home, a The Kooks night will likely feel like the sweet spot between indie charm and pop clarity.