Credit: Andrew Bayley
From the start it was clear that this was a tour for the fans, but when isn’t it fan orientated with Only The Poets?! The intimate venues really did take it back to where it began.
120 people packed into the small, sweaty basement of The Sunflower Lounge for the second time that evening, and the band opened their 18th and final set in a run lasting 9 days. The dedication this band have put in for their fans was heart-warming to witness, and it was obvious the fans appreciated it, a lot.
From the moment the band burst into their opening tune 'miserable’, the audience did not disappoint. Every single word of every single song was sung back at the band from start to finish and it would be safe to say that they were one of the most involved crowds I've ever seen at a gig. The pointing from side to side during the lyrics “looking at you looking at him” in ‘Looking At You’ was proof that the dedicated and loyal fanbase feel a strong connection with the band. You just can’t help but get involved yourself.
Throughout the performance, lead vocalist and guitarist Tommy Longhurst spoke about how special it was to be performing at The Sunflower Lounge, a venue they played on their first tour. Among the performances of Only The Poets’ existing discography were tracks from their upcoming debut album ‘And I’d Do It Again’, out 30 January. These included their latest release ‘Saké’, ‘Emotionally Hungover’, ‘Guess She’s Cool’, and ‘I Keep On Messing It Up’. The record is about self-reflection, the highs and lows, and how those experiences in their lives not just as a band, but also as human beings, have made them into who they are today. As Longhurst said himself during the gig, “when we’re asked if we would change anything in our journey we say no because it’s made us who we are and everything happens for a reason in life so that’s why we called the record ‘And I’d Do It Again’.”
The band’s unwavering commitment to make live music as accessible as possible will not be stopping anytime soon. On 02 February 2026, Only The Poets will take to the stage at the O2 Academy in Brixton for the price of just £1 per ticket, with Longhurst stating during the Birmingham show “music should be accessible to anybody and everybody.”
The show was brought to a close in style with ‘Emotional’, a track about a night out in the band’s hometown Reading, perfectly rounding off the ‘Going Back To Where It Began’ tour.
