Kaiser chiefs at new market
I’ve been lucky enough to see kaiser chiefs many times over the years, but never at a racecourse, so I jumped at the chance to head to Newmarket.
Following a thrilling afternoon of racing, the focus shifted to the main stage as Scouting For Girls stepped up to entertain the crowd. Frontman Roy Stride couldn’t resist pointing out that the band has now been together for an impressive twenty years—a milestone that didn’t necessarily need highlighting, though he quickly apologised for making us all feel incredibly old. Paradoxically, Stride himself looks as though he hasn’t aged a single day since their debut.
The band delivered an infectiously joyful, high-energy singalong that proved to be the perfect soundtrack for a beautiful summer afternoon basking in the Suffolk sunshine. Embracing the modern era, Roy bounced around the stage carrying his phone on a selfie stick, leaving the crowd with the distinct impression that they might just pop up on the band’s official social media feeds later on. The true highlight of the set came during a lively rendition of Elvis Ain’t Dead, when Roy ventured out into the stands, charmingly recruiting three young children from the audience to belt out the song’s catchy refrain.
SETLIST
Famous
This Ain’t a Love Song
Heartbeat
Posh Girls
These Are The Good Days
Come on Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners cover)
Elvis Ain’t Dead / Can’t Help Falling in Love
She’s So Lovely
There was barely time to get a drink and it was time for Kaiser Chiefs. I started off sitting in the stands, where I had a brilliant view of Ricky Wilson and the large tv screens showing the stage, but as the set progressed, a severe fear of missing out kicked in. Realizing that the true heart of the gig was on the ground, I abandoned my seat to plunge straight into the thick of the main crowd, where I could finally take in the scale of the full band.
A major driving force behind the night’s success was Ricky himself, who is looking incredibly lean, healthy, and completely revitalised. He quite literally did not stand still for a single second of the performance. Instead, he constantly worked every inch of the space—pacing the stage, leaping onto front-row boxes and amplifiers, and frequently throwing and catching his microphone stand with effortless showmanship. He even took things a step further by climbing directly into the stands to interact with the fans.
Behind the band, the screen graphics mirrored the visual production used across their summer festival run, including a personal favourite: a brilliant Jurassic Park inspired video sequence.
Standing in that crowd provided a wonderfully surreal contrast. There was something uniquely brilliant about being surrounded by people still dressed to the nines for a formal day at the races while collectively screaming the lyrics to We Are The Angry Mob. Despite the mixed attire, any initial stiffness completely melted away as the entire field united in having an absolute blast. The setlist itself was a flawless execution of pure indie-rock nostalgia. Packed with massive, crowd-pleasing anthems, the songs felt expertly curated to keep a massive outdoor audience on their feet. While I was secretly holding out hope to hear “How 2 Dance” make the cut, the sheer strength of the final selection left absolutely zero room for real disappointment.
Ultimately, it was a visually flawless production. The sound, the crowd’s energy, and the immersive staging came together so perfectly that, by the time the final encore echoed out, it was easy to completely forget we were actually standing in the middle of a racecourse.
And if you are wondering, I won £43
SETLIST
The Factory Gates
Everyday I Love You Less and Less
Heat Dies Down
Modern Way
Good Days Bad Days
People Know How to Love One Another
Na Na Na Na Naa
Never Miss a Beat
Ruby
Hole in My Soul
Reasons to Stay Alive
I Predict a Riot
The Angry Mob
Pinball Wizard (The Who cover)
Take My Temperature
Coming home
Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones cover)
Oh My God
Follow Kaiser Chiefs website / facebook / instagram / spotify / apple music / youtube / tiktok
Follow Scouting For Girls website / facebook / instagram / spotify / apple music / youtube / tiktok