LIVE MUSIC FOR EVERYONE: ONLY THE POETS TO PLAY O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON FOR JUST £1 ON FEBRUARY 2ND 2026
PRESALE 10th SEPTEMBER 10am HERE
GENERAL ONSALE 10am HERE
A CELEBRATION OF ACCESSIBLE LIVE MUSIC FOR ALL
SUPPORTING THE LIVE TRUST – THE VOICE OF UK LIVE MUSIC
DEBUT ALBUM ‘AND I’D DO IT AGAIN’ OUT JANUARY 30th 2026
NEW SINGLE “SAKÉ” OUT 5TH SEPTEMBER
GENERAL ONSALE 10am HERE
A CELEBRATION OF ACCESSIBLE LIVE MUSIC FOR ALL
SUPPORTING THE LIVE TRUST – THE VOICE OF UK LIVE MUSIC
DEBUT ALBUM ‘AND I’D DO IT AGAIN’ OUT JANUARY 30th 2026
NEW SINGLE “SAKÉ” OUT 5TH SEPTEMBER
Seven years after charging just £1 for entry to their first ever gig, Reading four-piece Only The Poets will make history on Monday, 2nd February 2026 as the first band ever to headline London’s legendary O2 Academy Brixton for the same symbolic price — a celebration of live music as something everyone should have access to, regardless of background or income.
The landmark show comes just days after the release of the band’s debut album, And I’d Do It Again (out January 30th 2026) — a bold 14-track alt-pop statement brimming with raw honesty, soaring hooks, and widescreen ambition. The album title nods to the band’s seven-year journey — from DIY beginnings and manual labour jobs to playing hundreds of shows across the UK and Europe — building a devoted fanbase one gig at a time.
The band have long championed causes that matter — from preserving grassroots venues to sparking open conversations around mental health For Only The Poets — frontman Tommy Longhurst, bassist Andrew “Roo” Burge, guitarist Clem Cherry, and drummer Marcus Yates — the decision to price tickets at £1 is both symbolic and deeply personal. As teenagers, live music was their lifeline: a place to connect, escape, and look after their mental health. Now, they want to pass that opportunity on to others, and give back to their fans, “We charged £1 for our first ever gig — back then we only had a couple of songs, so anything more felt like too much for us,” Longhurst recalls. “We wouldn’t have been able to see half the gigs we went to if ticket prices were what they are now, so we wanted to make sure that this show was open to everyone.”
Cherry adds: “Our fans know our shows are a safe space. This is about making sure anybody can come and have an amazing night in an iconic venue. It’s also a thank you to everyone who’s supported us to this point.”
As part of the initiative, the band will also support the LIVE Trust — the voice of the UK’s live music and entertainment sector — with an additional £1 per ticket donated directly to help protect and promote access to live music for all.
LIVE Trust CEO Jon Collins says, “This is a wonderful, positive move by Only the Poets, giving back to the grassroots while giving back to their fans. Making this show accessible to all means everyone can enjoy the associated mental health, communal and emotional benefits. Funds raised for the LIVE Trust will go directly to support artists, venues, promoters, festivals and more across the UK grassroots. A young band like Only the Poets stepping up while artists like Biffy Clyro and My Chemical Romance back the Trust at their arena and stadia shows is further evidence of the growing levels of support for the LIVE Trust across all parts of the live music scene.”
All tickets are priced at £1 (plus fees: £1 venue restoration, £1 Ticketmaster fee, and a £1 Live Trust donation). Both the venue and Ticketmaster have actively supported the initiative, lowering their usual rates in solidarity with the band’s commitment to accessibility.
Taking place just days after the release of And I’d Do It Again, the £1 O2 Academy Brixton show will be as much a celebration as it is a statement: live music should be for everyone. Written and recorded over seven intense months in the aftermath of a long-term break- up, And I’d Do It Again blends shimmering ’80s-inflected synths with vivid, emotionally charged storytelling. Across 14 meticulously crafted tracks — from the euphoric rush of “Emotionally Hungover” to the, melancholic and slow-burning, Guess She’s Cool , to the aching intimacy of “Madeline” and slinky new single, Saké - the band navigate heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery with fearless honesty, captured in the raw emotion and ambition of a group who have spent many years building their career from the ground up.
DON’T MISS A THING:
OTP // INSTA // X // FB
About Only The Poets
Only The Poets are one of the UK’s most exciting rising bands known for their honest and unfiltered, confessional songwriting and electrifying live shows. The Reading four piece— made up of frontman Tommy Longhurst, bassist Andy “Roo” Burge, guitarist Clem Cherry, and drummer Marcus Yates have built their following from the ground up, growing a devoted fanbase through relentless touring, grassroots connection, and a steady stream of powerful releases.
Their reputation as a must-see live act has been cemented through sold-out headline tours across Europe and the US, as well as high-profile support slots for artists including Lewis Capaldi, YUNGBLUD, Bastille, and are supporting The Wombats in the U.S in the autumn. In 2025 alone, the band have sold over 25,000 tickets across their European tour and made their US live debut with sold-out shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. In London, the band have sold out shows at Camden Barfly, KOKO, Electric Ballroom, and O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
With songs that speak openly about love, loss, mental health, and emotional resilience, Only The Poets have become a voice for a generation unafraid to feel deeply. Their lyrics feel lived-in: not just stories, but shared experiences. It’s this emotional openness that’s helped them grow from cult favourites to a rising force without ever losing their grassroots spirit.
Only The Poets continue to carve their own path — not through trends, but through truth, connection, and unforgettable live moments.
About the LIVE Trust
The UK live music industry entertains over 30 million fans each year. The sector boasts world-class performance spaces, culture-defining festivals, and our passionate, creative workforce builds global superstars that are the pride of the United Kingdom.
LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment) is the voice of the UK’s live music and entertainment business. LIVE members are a federation of 15 live music industry associations representing over 3,000 businesses, 35,000 artists and 2,000 backstage workers.
LIVE works to ensure that the interests of live music in the UK are understood and communicated to Government, policymakers, regulators, the public and the wider music and entertainment industries. Through collective representation, LIVE promotes the interests of artists, venues, festivals, promoters, booking agents, crew, and production suppliers.
LIVE was initially formed in response to the unprecedented pressure and devastation faced by the industry due to COVID-19 and is structured around four pillars: lobbying, economic analysis, messaging, and skills & diversity. Its work is driven by a series of expert groups on topics including festivals & outdoor events, venues, touring, our people, and sustainability.
The landmark show comes just days after the release of the band’s debut album, And I’d Do It Again (out January 30th 2026) — a bold 14-track alt-pop statement brimming with raw honesty, soaring hooks, and widescreen ambition. The album title nods to the band’s seven-year journey — from DIY beginnings and manual labour jobs to playing hundreds of shows across the UK and Europe — building a devoted fanbase one gig at a time.
The band have long championed causes that matter — from preserving grassroots venues to sparking open conversations around mental health For Only The Poets — frontman Tommy Longhurst, bassist Andrew “Roo” Burge, guitarist Clem Cherry, and drummer Marcus Yates — the decision to price tickets at £1 is both symbolic and deeply personal. As teenagers, live music was their lifeline: a place to connect, escape, and look after their mental health. Now, they want to pass that opportunity on to others, and give back to their fans, “We charged £1 for our first ever gig — back then we only had a couple of songs, so anything more felt like too much for us,” Longhurst recalls. “We wouldn’t have been able to see half the gigs we went to if ticket prices were what they are now, so we wanted to make sure that this show was open to everyone.”
Cherry adds: “Our fans know our shows are a safe space. This is about making sure anybody can come and have an amazing night in an iconic venue. It’s also a thank you to everyone who’s supported us to this point.”
As part of the initiative, the band will also support the LIVE Trust — the voice of the UK’s live music and entertainment sector — with an additional £1 per ticket donated directly to help protect and promote access to live music for all.
LIVE Trust CEO Jon Collins says, “This is a wonderful, positive move by Only the Poets, giving back to the grassroots while giving back to their fans. Making this show accessible to all means everyone can enjoy the associated mental health, communal and emotional benefits. Funds raised for the LIVE Trust will go directly to support artists, venues, promoters, festivals and more across the UK grassroots. A young band like Only the Poets stepping up while artists like Biffy Clyro and My Chemical Romance back the Trust at their arena and stadia shows is further evidence of the growing levels of support for the LIVE Trust across all parts of the live music scene.”
All tickets are priced at £1 (plus fees: £1 venue restoration, £1 Ticketmaster fee, and a £1 Live Trust donation). Both the venue and Ticketmaster have actively supported the initiative, lowering their usual rates in solidarity with the band’s commitment to accessibility.
Taking place just days after the release of And I’d Do It Again, the £1 O2 Academy Brixton show will be as much a celebration as it is a statement: live music should be for everyone. Written and recorded over seven intense months in the aftermath of a long-term break- up, And I’d Do It Again blends shimmering ’80s-inflected synths with vivid, emotionally charged storytelling. Across 14 meticulously crafted tracks — from the euphoric rush of “Emotionally Hungover” to the, melancholic and slow-burning, Guess She’s Cool , to the aching intimacy of “Madeline” and slinky new single, Saké - the band navigate heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery with fearless honesty, captured in the raw emotion and ambition of a group who have spent many years building their career from the ground up.
DON’T MISS A THING:
OTP // INSTA // X // FB
About Only The Poets
Only The Poets are one of the UK’s most exciting rising bands known for their honest and unfiltered, confessional songwriting and electrifying live shows. The Reading four piece— made up of frontman Tommy Longhurst, bassist Andy “Roo” Burge, guitarist Clem Cherry, and drummer Marcus Yates have built their following from the ground up, growing a devoted fanbase through relentless touring, grassroots connection, and a steady stream of powerful releases.
Their reputation as a must-see live act has been cemented through sold-out headline tours across Europe and the US, as well as high-profile support slots for artists including Lewis Capaldi, YUNGBLUD, Bastille, and are supporting The Wombats in the U.S in the autumn. In 2025 alone, the band have sold over 25,000 tickets across their European tour and made their US live debut with sold-out shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. In London, the band have sold out shows at Camden Barfly, KOKO, Electric Ballroom, and O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
With songs that speak openly about love, loss, mental health, and emotional resilience, Only The Poets have become a voice for a generation unafraid to feel deeply. Their lyrics feel lived-in: not just stories, but shared experiences. It’s this emotional openness that’s helped them grow from cult favourites to a rising force without ever losing their grassroots spirit.
Only The Poets continue to carve their own path — not through trends, but through truth, connection, and unforgettable live moments.
About the LIVE Trust
The UK live music industry entertains over 30 million fans each year. The sector boasts world-class performance spaces, culture-defining festivals, and our passionate, creative workforce builds global superstars that are the pride of the United Kingdom.
LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment) is the voice of the UK’s live music and entertainment business. LIVE members are a federation of 15 live music industry associations representing over 3,000 businesses, 35,000 artists and 2,000 backstage workers.
LIVE works to ensure that the interests of live music in the UK are understood and communicated to Government, policymakers, regulators, the public and the wider music and entertainment industries. Through collective representation, LIVE promotes the interests of artists, venues, festivals, promoters, booking agents, crew, and production suppliers.
LIVE was initially formed in response to the unprecedented pressure and devastation faced by the industry due to COVID-19 and is structured around four pillars: lobbying, economic analysis, messaging, and skills & diversity. Its work is driven by a series of expert groups on topics including festivals & outdoor events, venues, touring, our people, and sustainability.
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