Fireworks lit up the Thames as The Kooks delivered a career-spanning celebration at London's historic Old Royal Naval College, marking 20 years since the release of their landmark debut album, *Inside In/Inside Out*.

Performing as part of Labyrinth on the Thames, the Brighton indie favourites played to a crowd of around 10,000 fans, blending nostalgia with a reminder of why they continue to resonate with a new generation of listeners.

Following a crowd-wide rendition of *Sweet Caroline*, the band burst onto the stage with the high-energy *Sofa Song*, immediately setting the riverside audience in motion. Early favourites including *Always Where I Need To Be*, *Eddie's Gun* and *She Moves In Her Own Way* sparked huge singalongs, while newer material such as *Sunny Baby* demonstrated the band's continued songwriting appeal.

The evening also delivered some of its most emotional moments through frontman Luke Pritchard's heartfelt reflections. Returning to an area close to where he spent part of his childhood in Forest Hill, Pritchard admitted he was overwhelmed by the occasion.

"You guys are beautiful. You're unbelievable," he told the crowd. "I'm an emotional guy, and I might start tearing up. This is amazing."

Seated at the piano, he introduced *See Me Now* with a deeply personal story about his late father.

"I realised the whole reason why I make music and write songs is because of my Dad," he said. "I lost my Dad when I was three years old. We actually used to live in Forest Hill, just down the road. He left me a box of records and a Gibson Les Paul."

"So this song goes out to anyone who's missing someone today or feeling lost. This is for you."

Thousands of phone lights illuminated the venue during the moving performance, creating one of the night's standout moments.

Later, Pritchard stripped things back for fan favourite *Seaside*, reminiscing about the band's early days writing songs in Brighton.

"We used to rehearse in this old bread factory," he recalled. "I remember sitting outside one day, looking out at the sea."

The celebratory atmosphere returned in full force for the encore, with *Ooh La* and the era-defining *Naive* bringing the evening to a close as fireworks exploded over the River Thames, providing a fitting backdrop to one final mass singalong.

Released in 2006, *Inside In/Inside Out* sold more than two million copies worldwide and helped define the British indie explosion of the mid-2000s. Two decades later, The Kooks continue to enjoy remarkable longevity, balancing the loyalty of their original fanbase with a rapidly growing Gen Z audience who have embraced the band's catalogue through social media.

The group's resurgence has been reflected in recent years through sold-out arena tours and major festival appearances. Their seventh studio album, *Never/Know*, became their highest-charting release since 2008, reaching No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and marking another successful chapter in the band's career.

Support came from Liverpool indie favourites Circa Waves, whose set featuring *T-Shirt Weather* and *Movies* proved an ideal warm-up. Frontman Kieran Shuddall joked: "Half of this set is ripped off The Kooks, so I owe them a lot."

Earlier performances from Tom A. Smith, Girl In The Year Above, Danny Griffiths and Granada completed a varied lineup that perfectly complemented the anniversary celebration.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.