Bilmuri, South Arcade at O2 Forum Kentish Town, London 2025

My friend has been trying to get me into Bilmuri for a number of years now, but being the music snob that I am, I’ve been turning my nose up. Fast forward to last winter, and I finally caved when I saw them open for Sleep Token, the gig that secured Johnny Franck (of ex Attack Attack fame) & Co a position in many a new fans’ playlists, thus gaining them a headline show upgrade from the Electric Ballroom to Kentish Town Forum. Suddenly, I got it, and went from “meh” to “take my money” real quick. Some bands just hit differently live and Bilmuri hit hard. I got myself ready to be hit one more time, and stepped into the London mayhem on a Tuesday night. 

Warming up the already sweltering audience were South Arcade, the young UK four piece we’ve waxed lyrical about before here. South Arcade are the kind of band you’d expect to see tearing it up at The Bronze in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: the perfect mix of electrifying and edgy, with a vibe that feels straight outta Sunnydale’s iconic nightclub (by making this reference I realise I may not be among their target audience, yet stranger things have happened), and a serious noughties pop punk attitude. They brought the perfect blend of high-energy, angsty anthems and catchy hooks that made even grandma here jump around. And just when I thought I knew what’s coming next, they threw in a rendition of Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack, just to win over the new fans and remind everyone they’re here to have a blast. 

And then Bilmuri hit the stage. If you were a new fan, you’d probably have a hard time pinning down what genre is about to get unleashed just by looking at them. For the rest of the seasoned mavens, it can be just as confusing: is it emo? Is it pop, post hardcore, country metal? The answer is…all of the above, and maybe none of them. Johnny Franck kicks things off strong with EMPTYHANDED and it becomes apparent early on we’re up for an upheaval with occasional humour pit stops, Fortnite references, and deep reflections. Johnny is an absolute beast and deserves every bit of the hype he’s getting right now.  His voice does not skip a beat all night, and I kept waiting for him to falter, to show some sign that he is, indeed, human (though he later confirmed “I’m not fucking crying”) but nope, he was flawless.

He sounds better live than on record and has an energy that melted our faces off with sheer talent. He belted out tune after tune with impeccable pitch, and the crowd was right there with him, singing every chorus in unison. Now, let’s talk about the audience for a second. It was a masterpiece of good vibes – people dancing, singing, and most importantly, looking after each other like a big, sweaty family. It felt like a lovefest where I wasn’t crowded, even at a sold out show (which says a lot). Folks were sharing their water, nodding to strangers like old pals, and generally just being solid humans. 

Be the change you want to see – I truly believe the crowd vibed that way because Bilmuri have such an incredible chemistry as a band. They’re the perfect mix of musical prowess, genuine affection for each other, and a mission to make everyone feel like they’re part of something special. And they absolutely nailed it. Gabi Rose infuses so much soul into the music with her saxophone, flute, and flawless vocals. Guitarist Reese Maslen shreds on guitar while also crushing harsh vocals and tossing in game references, and Xavier Ware keeps everything driving forward on drums.

Towards the end of the night, Johnny drops a bombshell, opening up about the tough times before Bilmuri formed, when he was in a dark place and planned to take his own life. Instead of succumbing to the darkness, he turned to music. It was a powerful reminder that music can save us, that art can be a lifeline, and that sometimes, surviving means choosing to keep going, even when it feels impossible. I’m not crying, you’re crying. So what’s the takeaway from a night of cranking hogs and chanting about beans on toast? Bilmuri are more than just a quirky band. They’re an achor and a community, proof that music can bring people together in a way that almost nothing else can, a lesson that sometimes you just have to laugh when you heart is bleeding in order to make it through. Bilmuri came, saw, made us all want to live, laugh, love – unapologetically.