Only The Poets brings One More Night Tour to Engine Rooms, Southampton
Only The Poets returned to Southampton’s Engine Rooms for the final UK stop of the One More Night Tour. The venue is a familiar stop from their first UK tour. Once again it was packed with an enthusiastic crowd adorned with friendship bracelets and glow sticks.
Kerr Mercer, accompanied by Adam Frame on guitar, kicked off the night with an intimate yet captivating set. Despite releasing no official music, the Scottish singer-songwriter effortlessly connected with the crowd. Even with a song written just last week, the audience had been to several stops of the tour and knew all the words. The warm reception from the crowd created an unexpectedly vibrant atmosphere for an opening act.
In contrast to the evening’s more mellow opener, Only The Poets delivered the same dynamic and high-energy performance that defined their rise in the UK’s indie rock scene. From the first note to the last, both the band and their fans maintained an unrelenting energy.
A beautiful moment came during Looking At You. Known for their loyal fans, the Poets‘ audience certainly lived up to expectations. The crowd spontaneously formed a lively conga line that snaked its way around the entire venue. What started as a small group quickly grew longer each time it passed me. The chaos was well-choreographed, and everyone miraculously made it back to the stage in time for the chorus to drop. It was a perfect example of the fun, carefree vibe Only The Poets create at their shows. Their fans are never just watching – they’re a huge part of the experience.
Another highlight of the night came when lead vocalist Tommy Longhurst and guitarist Clem Cherry made their way into the heart of the crowd. The audience dutifully lit a path with their phone’s torches, and created a circle around the duo. With an unplugged arrangement of Black and Blue, flashlights continued to illuminate the room and fans threw arms around one another. The stripped-back song gave an emotive touch amidst the high-energy set.
As the final stop of the UK tour, Only The Poets made sure to give heartfelt shoutouts to their entire team. The warm chemistry between the band members clearly extended to the whole touring “family” as stated by singer Tommy. The band also took a moment to thank the crowd for their support and teased big things on the horizon in 2025.
They closed the encore with the obvious fan-favourite, Emotional. It brought the night to an epic conclusion with dancing and singing. It was a perfect end to a tour that celebrated not just the music, but the community behind it.
I am always pleased to see independent bands rise through the ranks without forgetting their roots. Only The Poets exemplify this and stay grounded to the UK’s grassroots venues that built them. Their genuine connection with the audience makes it clear that this is just the beginning of an exciting journey. I’m eager to see how they continue to evolve and make their mark in the music scene from here.
