Concert Review: Gazpacho / HamaSaari (O2 Islington Academy, London - Saturday 4th April 2026)

Written: 5th April 2026

Formed thirty years ago, I first became familiar with Gazpacho when they supported Marillion on their Marbles tour in 2004. Following the band ever since has been a rewarding experience. They have produced a string of excellent albums – truly a band without a weak entry in their back catalogue. Magic 8-Ball (review here) was released last year and having spoken with keyboardist Thomas Andersen about it at length (read my interview with him here), I have been looking forward to hearing some of it live ever since. It is a pleasant spring day in Islington as I head towards the O2 Academy and luckily enough, once inside, I manage to secure a place on the barrier - the perfect vantage point to enjoy the evening.

Support band French quartet HamaSaari prove to be a strong and natural fit as support for Gazpacho, rooted firmly in progressive rock while sometimes confidently pushing into heavier territory. They play with real conviction, two band members moving barefoot across the stage, adding a sense of freedom and commitment. Alongside beautifully introspective moments, the set regularly veers into progressive metal. From opener Frames through to their final song Prognosis, via tracks such as Bleak, they receive an enthusiastic response from those who arrive early to catch them. Elements of post-rock sit comfortably beside more aggressive passages, including occasional growled vocals from frontman Jordan Jupin. Not a band I was previously familiar with; I will be rectifying this in the future.

When five members of Gazpacho take the stage, it reflects their approach to their music. Unhurried, thoughtful and with minimum of fuss. Bathed in blue light and with all the members dressed in plain black, the first notes of We Are Strangers float gently over the expectant crowd. With their hypnotic, brooding music, Gazpacho have always been a band to watch and lose yourself in, rather than one designed for jumping around and punching the air. That is exactly what the highly respectful audience do. Throughout the evening, even during the quietest moments, I hear no talking whatsoever, each person in attendance determined to fully absorb the music and allow it to unfold. Following the introduction to We Are Strangers, vocalist Jan-Henrik Ohme joins his bandmates holding a magic 8-ball and the night begins in earnest.

With this being the last night of the main part of the tour, the band are incredibly tight – although I have no doubt that the first night was just as intoxicating. For the most part, each member of the band stays in the same place; there is no need for theatrics when the music itself is so cinematic and expansive. Ohme – who possesses one of the most exquisite voices in progressive rock – compellingly tells his tales with the slightest gesture or subtle inflections in his delivery. Each Gazpacho album has a fascinating narrative and just before the hauntingly exquisite Soyuz One, he tells us that amongst other songs, tonight will focus on two albums: one being Magic 8-Ball and the other, “an album that has proved popular over the years,” Tick Tock.

The effect of Mikael Krømer’s violin during many songs cannot be overstated and his meditative introduction to Golem from March of Ghosts leads to its slow-burning build. It evolves majestically and through various musical territories. Rightly so, Gazpacho are proud of their new album and tonight we are treated to five tracks. Gingerbread Men is elegant and richly arranged and by now we are totally spellbound by the performance. Some of the most captivating moments come in the shape of emotively powerful shifts in mood. The hairs on my arms rise as Ohme sings We’ll never escape / From the big wave before Jon-Arne Vilbo’s guitar solo unfolds with quiet authority. With vaudevillian embellishments, Magic 8-Ball shows a completely different side to the music and there is a twisted delight in Ohme’s performance.

During some of the instrumental sections – at least those short enough so he does not feel the need to leave the stage – he is genuinely revelling in the performance of his colleagues as much as the rest of us, occasionally asking them if they are okay and sometimes just watching and enjoying their individual performances. Bassist Kristian Trop and drummer Robert Johansen form a wonderfully intuitive partnership; they have an almost telepathic understanding that can be restrained or forceful as the music demands it.

Keyboardist Thomas Andersen - who during the band introductions Ohme states is “the brains behind it all” -  brings layers of texture and tonal detail that give the live sound amazing warmth and dimension. Nevertheless, Gazpacho are not a band built around any single member; instead, every element is integral to the whole, with each member given the space to contribute and quietly stand out when the music allows.

As promised earlier, a significant amount of Tick Tock is played – everything except Desert Flight in fact. This means both The Walk and Tick Tock are performed in full, lending the set a sense of scope and coherence. Across these extended compositions, almost every facet of the band’s playing is brought into focus, from Jon-Arne Vilbo’s expressive guitar work to the striking violin and mandolin contributions of multi‑instrumentalist Mikael Krømer. Despite their scale, the pieces never feel long; instead, they move with such flow and purpose that time passes unnoticed. Hearing these familiar works presented complete, and given the space to unfold on stage, is a genuine pleasure.

Magic 8-Ball is further represented through Sky King and the fragile and utterly mesmeric Starling – my favourite from the album. Ohme comments that Starling feels like it could sit happily on any of the band’s older albums and it certainly has that aura. With Tick Tock and Magic 8‑Ball forming the bulk of the set, Upside Down stands as the sole track from Night. Given the band’s vast discography and the emphasis on Tick Tock and Magic 8-Ball, it is impossible to visit every album in a single evening. While it would have been wonderful to hear something from Demon, a particular favourite of mine, this is no more than a very minor quibble in a setlist that is otherwise so carefully structured. Winter Is Never, the first song of the encore, is met with an ecstatic response, before a rare treat follows as the band play Bravo, a song performed only once in the last fifteen years, earlier on this very tour.

Photo credit: Damian Boys

As the crowd file out into the London night, what stays with me most is the sense of privilege that comes from witnessing a band operating at this level in such an attentive room. Gazpacho prioritise craft, patience and cohesion and ask their audience to meet them halfway. They deserve to be heard far wider, yet there is something undeniably special about sharing an evening with people who instinctively understand what the band offer. A truly remarkable performance from a band that continue to reward patience and attention with music of rare beauty, depth and integrity.

Gazpacho setlist

We Are Strangers

Soyuz One

Golem

Gingerbread Men

Magic 8-Ball

The Walk (Parts I and II)

Starling

Upside Down

Sky King

Tick Tock (Parts I, II and III)

Winter Is Never

Bravo