Grandson’s London Show Was Loud, Political and Built on Respect

On 2 March 2026, Grandson brought his Inertia tour to the O2 Forum Kentish Town for what felt less like a standard headline show and more like a shared release of anger, frustration, and solidarity. In a time when so much feels unstable, divisive, and hostile, this was a night built on intensity, but also on care.

Pinkshift

Pinkshift opened with huge energy and wasted no time winning over the room. Judging by the reaction, a large part of the crowd already knew them well, despite having achieved worldwide recognition fairly recently, and that connection was obvious from the first moments of the set. Their performance hit hard, with a heavy and urgent live presence that immediately pushed everyone into moving. Just as important as the music, though, was the message. Pinkshift made space for political commentary throughout the set and were clear in framing the room as a safe space, reinforcing that this was not just about noise or aggression, but about community too.

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Grandson

By the time Grandson stepped onstage, the anticipation inside the Forum was already high, but rather than launch straight into the set, he addressed the crowd about Bob Vylan not being allowed into the venue. It was a hard way to begin the night and set the tone for everything that followed. Grandson was direct about his frustration, as he was forced to choose between his free-speech rights and continuing with the show for his own crowd, which he chose the latter, and throughout the show continued to speak openly about how bad things feel right now, not only locally, but across the world.

That honesty has always been central to Grandson’s appeal, but live it lands with even greater force. Backed by a great band, he delivered a set that balanced chaos with moments of fun. The newer Inertia material sounded especially heavy in this setting, while older favourites kept the older and newer fans happy. Still, the most important part of the night was not just the music itself, but the atmosphere he worked to create around it.

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Repeatedly, Grandson made clear that this was meant to be a safe space for everyone in the room. He encouraged people to enjoy themselves, to mosh, to crowd surf, to throw themselves fully into the experience, but also reminded them to do it with respect. Pick each other up. Do not be mean. Look after one another. Keep the waves of crowd surfing coming, but make sure nobody is left behind. And if you are not in line with this, you’re not welcome at his shows.

That is what made this show stand out. Grandson was of course the highlight, but both artists understood that a heavy show can still feel welcoming, inclusive, and human. For a few hours, the O2 Forum became exactly that, a place to let go, speak up, and feel part of something bigger.