Fast rising indie rockers, Keo, blow the roof off O2 Ritz Manchester with a mix of top notch songs and a perfectly measured cover version.
KEO
In celebration of their rapidly accelerating, meteoric rise through the UK indie scene, Manchester welcomed one of the music industry’s most exciting new prospects: Keo. They’re a London-based 4-piece alternative rock band, fronted by brothers Finn (lead singer/guitar) and Conor Keogh (bass), alongside friends Oli Spackman (drums) and Jimmy Lanwern (guitar).
With the band performing to the iconic Pink Room at YES to a sold-out crowd of 250 people only a week prior, the 4-piecce headlined and sold out the 1500 crowd-capacity O2 Ritz for the biggest show of their career so far. With only five songs currently released on Spotify, comprising of the 2025 release EP- Siren, it’s almost surreal to witness the scale of their momentum; yet their sold out slot at the Ritz, part of their UK and Europe tour, proved exactly why they’re already being booked to headline festivals such as Neighbourhood and The Great Escape this year. This wasn’t just another tour stop; it felt like a landmark moment in the making.
IMMEDIATE ENERGY
From the moment the lights dim, following the energetic and action-packed performance of the rising London band Tooth (who prefer the term group of mates rather than band); which the crowd filled the venue early for, the atmosphere inside the Ritz was electric.
Fans packed the floor shoulder to shoulder as early as the first act, buzzing with the kind of anticipation usually reserved for long established acts. When Keo finally emerge, the room erupts; an eruption that doesn’t settle for the
rest of the night. It kept building upon until the house lights came on at the end of the night.
Opening with Hands, the band set an impactful and powerful tone immediately: tight, confident and overflowing with energy. It was the kind of opener that grabs the crowd by the collar and refuses to let go, the crowd scream the lyrics word for word setting up for more to come later in the night when the band played more fan favourites.
Be Happy and That’s Me, two unreleased songs, follow in quick succession, each met with louder cheers as the audience warmed into the band’s signature blend of indie charm and emotional grit. The latter being specifically noticeable as it leaned into the now iconic sound of comparable bands such as Wunderhorse which fans absolutely adore. Even with such a small discography and most of it being unreleased, it was shocking to see a room full of fans singing along, word-for-word like these tracks had been part of their lives for years.
SHIMMERING INDIE MELODIES
The set progresses through known tracks, Young, and fan favourite Thorn, which almost blows the roof off the iconic O2 Ritz as the crowd sings together with front man Finn leading at the front of the room. More unreleased tracks followed, Spaceman, Only We Know, Fly and in particular Spent On You, a favourite from the band themselves which translates into a moment that seems to lift the entire venue off the ground. Keo showcase a versatility that feels far beyond their years.
One moment they’re leaning into shimmering indie melodies, the next they were driving the room into a frenzy with heavier riffs and soaring vocals. The band keep this energy up the whole night, captivating the attention and focus of everyone in the room, until a brief moment leaves the spectators scrambling and wanting more.
THE END
The encore arrives with a moody hazy red light and Finn appearing within the front right of the crowd creating an intimate and personal moment with fans. They accompany this moment and treat fans to a bold, atmospheric cover of The End by The Doors, a choice that surprises the crowd but lands with stunning impact and emphasising yet again the four-piece always has room to surprise the room once again.
From there they closed the night with their most popular and adored song I Lied, Amber. Keo deliver a finale that was equal parts emotional release and triumphant celebration. The room is united, sweaty, breathless and completely captivated and it is a fitting end to the night with every soul being illuminated with an ironic amber light which almost provided a last burst of energy from the crowd to chant the iconic song with them for the final time in the night.
Finn and the crowd end with a synchronised sung line of I Lied, Amber… marking the end of an incredible performance shortly before the house lights are switched on, signalling reluctant fans to empty the floor.
If this show proved anything, it’s that Keo aren’t just emerging newcomers anymore and their meteoric rise is no accident, they’re arriving; fast, and they’re doing it with style, heart, and a live presence that’s impossible to ignore.
Keo: Website