THE KOOKS

Their 2006 debut sold more than 2 million copies and soundtracked a generation, yet The Kooks find themselves newly beloved by another. While their first wave of fans remain fiercely loyal, a vibrant Gen Z audience has embraced them too, making them festival headliners once again. Social media has given their unmistakable Britpop-tinged indie an unexpected renaissance, introducing their songs to millions of new ears.

That renewed energy has been on full display in recent years, from sold-out world tours to huge festival moments, including a euphoric return to major festival main stages this year, nearly two decades on from their breakout. The crowd’s reaction is proof of the band’s enduring impact: a cross-generational chorus singing back songs like “Naïve” and “She Moves in Her Own Way” as loudly as ever. A career-defining moment came when The Kooks played their biggest ever UK headline tour, taking over Manchester’s Co-op Live and London’s O2 Arena this October.

“You’re always trying to renovate your band and re-inspire yourself because you don’t want to fall into a pattern or formula,” singer Luke Pritchard said. He and guitarist Hugh Harris have mastered the art of reinvention. From the jangly indie of their early days to synth-driven experiments and Krautrock touches, The Kooks have always pushed beyond nostalgia. Harris brings in influences from soul to opera, while Pritchard threads through his love of classic songwriting, from Bob Dylan to The Rolling Stones.

The Kooks released their seventh studio album, Never/Know, earlier this year, reaching the UK Top 5 — their highest chart position since 2008. On hearing the album, 1883 said: “The Kooks have cemented themselves as a key part of the UK musical landscape.” The Times included the single “Sunny Baby” in their Best New Songs Roundup, calling it “a riff and hook perfect for the start of spring.” NME welcomed in “the new era of The Kooks.”

Speaking about the album, Pritchard said: “I really feel like we’ve got our swagger back by letting things be and not making everything too perfect.” Harris agreed: “At the heart of it, we both want the same thing, and that’s very powerful.”

Almost twenty years in, The Kooks have not only reconnected with their roots, they’ve proven themselves one of indie’s most enduring live forces. No longer just the sound of the mid-2000s, they are, once again, the soundtrack to right now.