Alter Bridge Kick Off 2026 UK Arena Tour with Thunderous Newcastle Utilita Arena Show [Photos]

Back at the beginning of the year, Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti told V13 that he would keep going as long as he enjoyed what he was doing and fans enjoyed the songs they were putting out. Fast forward to this cold February evening at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, where the band were opening their 2026 UK arena tour, and it seemed that all was well in the Alter Bridge camp with smiles across their collective faces as they kicked off this run in the North East.

Joining them on the tour were US hard rock veterans Sevendust, who were wrapping up their set by the time we arrived at the arena, and North Carolina hard rockers Daughtry, who provided the perfect appetizer to the gritty hard rock of the headliners. Fronted by Chris Daughtry, the quartet powered through a thumping fifty minute set with the likes of recent single “The Bottom,” “It’s Not Over,” and “Heavy is the Crown” shaking around the arena, as a filling room made pretty sure that, when the animated frontman called for them to join in, their voices could be heard just as loudly as the band inside the hall.

Thirty minutes later, the American hard rockers are ready to take the stage and kick off these eagerly anticipated dates. Now, we all know that Newcastle can make some noise when it wants to, and this was no different. The room might not have been full to capacity, but that wasn’t noticeable as the decibel level cranked up as the band tore into opener “Silent Divide.” A thunderous “Addicted to Pain” followed, and those initial smiles were getting wider from both Myles Kennedy and those loyal fans packed onto the floor in front of him.

What followed was a lesson in quality, arena-ready hard rock from the Florida band who, after twenty-one years, showed they are still at the top of their game. During my chat with Mark earlier in the year, I commented how I felt his partner in crime, Myles Kennedy, was one of the most iconic frontmen in modern hard rock and listening to Kennedy power through those opening songs tonight, nothing changed that opinion. His voice grabs your attention, whether the location be a club, a festival or, in this case, an arena.

As the set progresses, Tremonti takes over vocals for “Burn It Down,” proving himself to be a more than capable frontman. Elsewhere, the likes of “Broken Wings, “Rise Today,” and “Blackbird” were delivered with power, passion, and energy from a band that, even after nearly two decades, seems incapable of delivering a bad show. While we’ve seen members of the band perform in the UK in their various other projects, it feels like forever since Alter Bridge has graced these shores, so, as “Isolation” wrapped up this thunderous opening night, thousands of fans head back into Newcastle hoping that it won’t be as long until they are next back in town.

Check out Graham Finney Photography’s photo gallery from the show, along with the Alter Bridge setlist, here:

Alter Bridge Setlist:

1. Silent Divide
2. Addicted to Pain
3. Cry of Achilles
4. Playing Aces
5. Fortress
6. Burn It Down (Mark Tremonti on vocals)
7. Open Your Eyes
8. Tested and Able
9. Broken Wings
10. Wonderful Life (First verse and chorus)
11. Watch Over You
12. Silver Tongue
13. Rise Today
14. Metalingus
15. Blackbird
16. Isolation