Alternative rock ensemble Keo took the stage at Leeds Stylus on 6 March 2026, marking one of their final performances in a small, intimate venue before their inevitable ascent to indie stardom at breakneck speed.

By Caitlin Barnard

Photos by Stuart Duthie

From the moment the doors opened, the room was already brushing against capacity with every fan in the pit scrambling for front row viewing. The evening was launched into gear by support band Tooth, an indie quartet that wasted no time setting the tone with their unbridled performance. Their drummer’s intricate fills kept the set tight while the clattering guitars banged up against each other in a euphonious tangle.

The sea of people was already whipped into a frenzy, shouting for Keo as they entered the stage, who kicked off with Hands from their debut EP Siren. Their textured, uncompromising tone, reminiscent of 90s grunge and shoegaze, instantly swept the small venue up in a suffusion of layered soundscapes. 

From the outset, it was evident that the band have cultivated a devoted following, which has transformed their shows into a kind of collective ritual. Every member in the audience was chanting along to the lyrics, not only to established tracks but also to unreleased cuts such as Young and Spent On You. 

Thorn proved as dynamic as it was heart-wrenching. Each member displayed stage presence beyond their years, none more so than lead singer and guitarist Finn Keogh. His tone is so distinct and piercing that it cuts through the sheets of fuzzy distortion, straddling a line between transcendence and chaos.

Their cult classic song Fly was a particular standout amid a succession of standout tracks. It was raw, foreboding, and atmospheric, capturing the purest essence of heartbreak angst. The track transcends space and time, with its layers of grungy, hazy guitar and resonant bass culminating into the frontman’s signature husky vocals ripping from his chest. It was as if pieces of his soul were being strewn across the stage.

Ending on their momentous lead single I Lied, Amber, their performance left the room transfixed, as a definitive mark in time was left, sitting on the brink of something bigger to come. They have tapped into something timely, where people are eagerly leaning in to feel the swell of emotions evoked by their distinct sonic palette. 

With a new phase unfolding for the band, keep your eye out for any upcoming projects being released through their new record company, Island Records, as they are certainly ones to watch.

Keo will tour sold-out shows in Europe throughout March and April and has recently been announced as a headliner for Neighbourhood Festival on 17 October in Manchester, where they will be accompanied by Tooth and a myriad of other exciting, new, and upcoming performers. 

Tooth and Keo played at Leeds Stylus on Friday 6 March 2026.