Wolfmother w/ The Howlers and Mother Vulture @O2 Academy, Bristol - 28/07/26

Wolfmother: An explosive night of sweaty, high octane, retro hard rock and fuzzy riffs

The UK is reeling from a series of heatwaves but tonight, Bristol is about to experience an Aussie heatwave in the form of Grammy award winning veteran rockers Wolfmother playing at the O2 Academy. Wolfmother are currently on their massive 20^th anniversary tour across Europe and their support for tonight are East London desert-rockers The Howlers and Bristolian punk-groove band, Mother Vulture.

Mother Vulture are on first and these Bristol lads have steadily built a reputation as one of the UK's most exhilarating live acts and their performance tonight only reinforces why whispers about the band's future are growing louder with every performance. Equal parts hard rock, punk, grunge and unfiltered mayhem, Mother Vulture don't simply entertain – they overwhelm the senses in the best possible way. Make sure to catch them at their special hometown show on 18^th December at the Trinity Centre.

The Howlers are up next and stepping onstage to an eager reception, they waste little time establishing their trademark blend of desert rock, blues, indie and garage swagger. There is no elaborate production to distract from the music – just a wall of amplifiers, moody lighting and two musicians clearly intent on letting the songs speak for themselves. Frontman Adam Young is the undeniable focal point throughout the evening. His commanding vocal delivery shifts effortlessly between gritty blues, melodic vulnerability and full-throated rock swagger while his stage presence remains magnetic without becoming theatrical. Rather than relying on exaggerated gestures, Young's confidence comes from complete immersion in every lyric, making each song feel intensely personal. They will be touring again on the back of their new album, titled ‘Heavy’ releasing in October and will be back in Bristol on 12^th October at Rough Trade.

Tonight’s capacity at the O2 Academy is close to sold out and there are a good number of youngsters in the crowd, along with their parents who are no doubt fans of Wolfmother and hopefully here to impart what witnessing Wolfmother for the first time in nearly 20 years feels like. There is something reassuringly unfashionable about a Wolfmother gig in 2026. While much of modern rock continues to reinvent itself through electronics, genre crossovers and hyper-polished production, Andrew Stockdale's long-running outfit remains devoted to one thing: colossal riffs played at face-melting volume. On their latest tour stop, that stubborn commitment feels less like nostalgia and more like a statement of intent.

From the opening chords, Wolfmother hit the stage with the swagger of a band that knows exactly what its audience has come for. There are no cinematic intros, no elaborate visuals and no lengthy speeches – they take to the stage, get settled and off we go – thick, fuzz-soaked guitars crashing into pounding drums as they open with ‘Dimension’ and Stockdale's unmistakable howl cuts through the venue. If the band's recorded catalogue channels the ghosts of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, the live show transforms those influences into something far more immediate. The riffs are heavier, the grooves dirtier and the songs stretch out just enough to remind you that Wolfmother have always thrived on the unpredictable chemistry of a live room.

Stockdale remains a magnetic focal point. His vocals have not lost the piercing edge that defined the band's breakthrough, while his guitar playing effortlessly shifts between bluesy flourishes and seismic riffing. It's a performance that doesn't scream for attention, it simply commands it. Stockdale is joined tonight by fellow countrymen, bassist James Wassenaar who joined the line-up in 2023 and drummer Brett “Wolfie” Wolfenden who joined the band in 2024. Predictably, the biggest eruptions arrive when the classics land. ‘White Unicorn’ expands into a hypnotic psychedelic workout that had the crowd swaying before exploding into its thunderous finale and ‘Woman’ still sounds like a shot of adrenaline delivered through overdriven amplifiers. 

We are treated to fast tempo numbers like ‘Midnight Train’ and ‘Pyramid’ before things slow down a little bit with ‘Mind’s Eye’ – an audience favourite from the self-titled debut album. With 11 out of 16 songs tonight coming from that first album, the audience are thoroughly enjoying this epic performance of classic rock and roll. And when the opening riff of ‘Joker And The Thief’ arrives, the room erupts. It is one of those rare modern rock anthems that still feels capable of levelling a concert hall and judging by the deafening singalong, its appeal has not dimmed one bit. The band take a quick break to then return to chants of “One more song! One more song!” and finish the night with an encore performance of ‘Love Train’ and ‘Victorious’. 

The beauty of Wolfmother's live show lies in its refusal to overcomplicate things. There are no backing tracks papering over imperfections or choreographed moments engineered for social media. Instead, there is an old-school confidence that trusts great songs and even greater volume to do the heavy lifting. Stockdale has never been the most talkative frontman, leaving the music to forge the connection rather than between-song banter. Yet this does not feel like a genuine weakness. If anything, it reinforces the sense that Wolfmother are here to play, not perform. Sonically, the band sound immense. The rhythm section locks into a muscular groove throughout the night, giving every riff room to breathe while maintaining a relentless sense of forward motion. Even at punishing volume, the mix remains remarkably clear, ensuring every guitar line and vocal hook lands with maximum impact.

In an era where live shows increasingly compete on spectacle, Wolfmother continue to prove that raw musicianship remains a compelling spectacle in itself. Their latest tour isn't about reinvention or chasing trends. It's about celebrating the enduring thrill of hard rock played with conviction, precision and enough amplifier power to shake the walls. Nearly two decades after they first burst onto the scene, Wolfmother still know exactly who they are. Better yet, they still know how to make an audience believe in rock'n'roll for 90 glorious, ear-ringing minutes.