Kae Tempest - Live Review

Kae Tempest Delivers Intense Glastonbury Warm-Up in Oxford

The sense of occasion at the O2 Academy Oxford was palpable. For the second of two intimate shows, the packed venue knew it was witnessing something special: a final, focused rehearsal before Kae Tempest headed to Glastonbury to play multiple sets over the weekend. This was less a standard gig and more a final, powerful tuning of an instrument before a momentous performance.

From the moment the set opened, Kae was a figure of immense focus, commanding the stage with a quiet intensity. The performance was a journey through a rich and varied sonic landscape, shifting seamlessly from the pulsating electronic beats of "More Pressure" to the stark, spoken-word intimacy that lies at the heart of the work. The crowd was completely locked in, hanging on every syllable and moving with the shifting rhythms, fully embracing the dynamic range of the material.

The setlist was a perfectly paced tour of Kae’s formidable catalogue. The soulful reflection of "Firesmoke" and the unifying anthem "People's Faces" created moments of profound, shared connection, drawing the audience closer. The performance felt both raw and incredibly polished, a testament to an artist at the absolute peak of their powers.

But the evening’s most arresting moment was saved for last. As the final beats of "Know Yourself" faded, the music stopped entirely. In its place, Kae delivered a brand-new poem, read without any musical backing. The room, which had been buzzing with energy just moments before, was held in a spellbound silence. It was a raw, direct, and unflinching conclusion that stripped everything back to the power of the words alone. For those heading to Worthy Farm, this was a thrilling preview; for those inside the O2, it was an unforgettable night.