Beartooth Finally Conquer Brixton Academy

Live Review | O2 Academy Brixton, London | 3 October 2026

Words by Lorna Leahy | Bigmouth Rock News

Beartooth’s long-awaited headline show at Brixton Academy had been a few years in the making. Originally scheduled to play the iconic South London venue in 2023, the band were forced to relocate their show to OVO Wembley following Brixton Academy’s closure. Three years later, they finally had the opportunity to headline the venue for the first time, and they certainly made the most of it.

Opening the evening were Kingdom of Giants, although the band faced an unusual challenge. Their drummer had been unable to travel to the UK due to visa issues, leaving them to find a creative solution. Rather than cancel their performance, the band incorporated live audio and video footage recorded during their Paris show, with the footage playing on the screen behind them.

It was an unconventional approach, but one that worked surprisingly well. Despite the circumstances, Kingdom of Giants delivered an energetic opening set, successfully warming up the crowd and setting the tone for the evening.

Next up were Canadian post-hardcore veterans Silverstein. With plenty of Silverstein shirts already visible throughout the venue, it was clear that a sizeable portion of the audience had arrived early specifically to catch their performance.

As one of the defining bands of the third-wave emo movement, Silverstein have spent more than two decades refining their live show, and that experience was evident from the moment they took the stage.

The crowd responded enthusiastically from the outset, with a set packed full of fan favourites, including “Smile in Your Sleep” and “My Heroine”, before closing with “Bleeds No More”. It was an impressive performance and a timely reminder of the band’s lasting influence on the post-hardcore scene.

By the time Beartooth were ready to take the stage, the standing section was looking increasingly packed, with anticipation building throughout the room. Although the show hadn’t quite sold out, you would never have guessed it once the band emerged.

From the front barrier to the back of the venue, fans were singing along to practically every word, creating the kind of atmosphere that makes Brixton Academy such a special place to experience live music.

Frontman Caleb Shomo was on top form throughout, constantly moving across the stage and making full use of every inch of space available. Frequently approaching the very edge of the stage, there were moments when it genuinely looked as though he was considering launching himself into the mosh pits below.

His enthusiasm was infectious, and it was clear that he was enjoying the performance every bit as much as the audience.

Drummer Connor Denis also had his opportunity to take centre stage, delivering an impressive drum solo before the rest of the band returned to launch into “Stadiums”, from their latest album.

However, it was the closing moments of the evening that provided perhaps the most memorable moment of the entire show.

Having already performed fan favourite “In Between” earlier in the set, Shomo returned to the song for one final moment. With the rest of the band having left the stage, he threw his microphone aside and began singing the opening lines again, completely unamplified.

Remarkably, his voice still carried throughout the venue, with the crowd quickly joining in. As thousands of voices took over, Shomo gradually made his way off stage, leaving the audience to finish the song themselves.

It was a brilliant way to bring the evening to a close and a powerful reminder of just how loud a Brixton crowd can be when given the opportunity.

Beartooth may have had to wait a few extra years to finally headline Brixton Academy, but judging by the atmosphere, the performance and that unforgettable finale, it was certainly worth the wait.

8/10