Royal Blood in Brighton

Royal Blood are an English rock duo comprising singer and bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher. Formed in 2011, they play hard rock built around distorted bass riffs and drums. They are known for songs including “Out of the Black,” “Figure It Out” and “Little Monster,” as well as the albums Royal Blood, How Did We Get So Dark? and Typhoons. Royal Blood supported Arctic Monkeys at Finsbury Park in 2014. In 2017 they performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury before headlining The O2 during the UK tour behind How Did We Get So Dark?, then returned to the festival in 2023. Their live setup centres on Kerr’s bass and vocals and Thatcher’s drums. Kerr routes his instrument through effects and separate amplifiers to produce both low-end and guitar-like parts in the duo’s arrangements. Royal Blood have played Manchester’s AO Arena and hometown shows at the Brighton Centre. Their festival appearances have also included Reading and Leeds.

The XCERTS are a Scottish alternative-rock trio formed in Aberdeen in 2001 by Murray Macleod and Jordan Smith, later joined by drummer Tom Heron. Their catalogue includes the albums In the Cold Wind We Smile, There Is Only You, Hold On to Your Heart and Learning How to Live and Let Go, as well as songs such as “Shaking in the Water” and “Feels Like Falling in Love.” The XCERTS toured the UK with Manchester Orchestra early in their recording career and later opened arena shows for Biffy Clyro. Their own headline tours have concentrated on clubs and theatres, while their festival appearances have included Download Festival and 2000trees.