The Charlatans at Roundhouse

11^th December 2025

Hannah Broughton

Shot by Nick Bennett

Hannah Broughton Shot by Nick Bennett

11 December 2025

With three weeks to go until Christmas, London is starting to exude that familiar party season energy, and tonight, its historic Roundhouse venue is hosting Midlands indie rockers The Charlatans. The Chalk Farm concert hall is bursting at the seams with expectant, fun–loving Gen Xers ready for a mid-week boost, as the band tour their 14^th studio album, We Are Love.​

Tim Burgess takes to the stage with his signature floppy hairdo, dressed in a white graphic tee and trusted pitch black sunglasses, as the band launch into Kingdom of Ours, the first track on their new record. Tonight’s set is split into two setlists, with an interval in between, and this first act is the shortest, at just 40 minutes long. It’s a mixture of new and old numbers, most notably the Britpop–esque North Country Boy, which, at four songs in, gets the first big nod of recognition from the crowd.

Burgess is a joy to watch onstage, and whether he’s dancing along to the music or making hand gestures to the crowd, he’s constantly engaged with his audience. One downside to this first setlist, however, is that the audience remains marginally lit up for the majority of the time, which seems to give a slightly uneasy feel. It’s much more comfortable for an audience to be shrouded in a bit of darkness while they watch the stage light up, and thankfully, the lighting eventually settles down to accommodate this around six tracks in.

The first round of songs closes with the catchy nostalgia of the 1990s hit Then, leaving fans with a taste of what’s to come. Inevitably, having an interval creates a nightmare queue situation at some bars and toilets, but if you work your way around the venue a bit, it’s easy to find the best spots to get a pint in around five minutes.

Set two is opened with the trippy instrumental of the Us and Only track, Forever, followed by the new album’s optimistic title tune, We Are Love. The show takes on a more rock ‘n’ roll party vibe, as the crowd feels more at ease, and so, it seems, does the band. Newer Deeper and Deeper is a highlight among the We Are Love tracks, while Just When You’re Thinking It Over’s jangly guitar and piano notes wash over the audience flawlessly.

Undoubtedly, the band’s breakout hits, One to Another and The Only One I Know, are worth the wait, and are met with united elation, as many more of the seated gig–goers begin to stand up and dance. Burgess even manages to say hello to everyone in the front row just before the encore, taking the time to shake their hands and proving he’s a frontman who highly respects his fans.​

As the show eventually draws to a close with the group’s cult-favourite Sproston Green, accompanied by lime–coloured lighting sweeping through the concert hall, you could almost imagine you’re sat in a field in the 90s watching the band at a sun-soaked festival. Burgess and co delivered a treat tonight, and they’ve shown exactly why The Charlatans are still playing filled-out 3000 capacity venues 35 years after they first began.

Hannah Broughton
Photos: Nick Bennett

For further information and future events, visit The Charlatans’s website here.

Watch the video for One To Another here: