Waterparks Bring Pure Emotion and Huge Singalongs to London‘s Kentish Town Forum [Photos]

There are few fanbases quite as committed as that of Waterparks, and their headline show at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on Thursday night proved exactly why. Long before doors opened, fans had already begun to plan their day, some arriving in the early hours of the morning, to secure that all-important spot at the barricade. By the time entry was underway, the queue for merchandise had nearly wrapped around inside the venue, a clear sign that for many in attendance tonight, this was a night they’d be waiting for for some time.

One of the best things about the O2 Forum Kentish Town is its layout. With a split-level standing floor and a huge balcony, it offers excellent sightlines from almost anywhere in the room. Whether you were pressed up against the front rail or watching from the seats above, there’s a great view, meaning everyone feels included and part of the event.

Opening the evening were Greywind, the sibling-led emo rock duo from Killarney. Comprised of Steph and Paul O’Sullivan and joined on stage by guitarist Jake Rodger and drummer Inaxio Abecia, they felt like a choice for the crowd. Their sound, clearly shaped by influences such as My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and The Matches, landed effortlessly with an audience primed for emotional, high-energy rock.

Frontwoman Steph O’Sullivan proved particularly compelling, effortlessly commanding the room. Between songs, she encouraged crowd interaction with playful questions and instructions, while during the tracks themselves, she had the audience jumping in unison. Greywind’s set was punchy, energetic, and their songs were incredibly catchy, exactly what you want from an opener tasked with warming up a crowd. They left a strong impression as a band very much on the rise.

Around an hour after Greywind had finished, and about fifteen minutes later than scheduled, the lights dimmed again for the main event. A video flickered across the LCD screens at the back of the stage as the band emerged in near darkness, with “The Waterparks Show” playing on the speakers. Some eagle-eyed fans spotted them early, triggering a wave of screams before a single note had even been played.

Launching straight into “Blonde,” Waterparks wasted no time in dialling the energy up to full throttle. The band’s stage presence was relentless; darting, dancing and bounding across the stage, they were almost impossible to pin down visually. It created a sense of chaos, in the best possible way, that perfectly matched the crowd’s screaming and singing.

What set this performance apart was its structure. The setlist was cleverly divided into emotion-related sections: Happiness, Sadness, Anticipation, and Anger, with an acoustic interlude in the middle. It gave the show a narrative arc rather than feeling like a straightforward run-through of songs. Importantly, it also allowed the band to showcase the breadth of their catalogue.

That catalogue was well represented. Newer tracks like “Funeral Grey” sat comfortably alongside fan favourites such as “Stupid For You,” while deeper cuts like “I Felt Younger When We Met” prompted some of the loudest sing-alongs of the night. Every word was shouted back at the stage, a testament to just how deeply invested this audience is.

A particularly thoughtful touch came during the acoustic section, which was made up of shortened versions of several songs rather than full-length performances. It was a clever decision that allowed them to include more fan favourites in a limited window, giving the crowd a broader snapshot of their catalogue without losing the pace that an acoustic section sometimes brings.

Crowd participation was another major highlight. At several points, fans were invited to help shape the setlist in real time, choosing between songs like “Peach (Lobotomy)” and “Telephone,” or “Not Warriors” and “Gloom Boys.” During the acoustic section, the entire venue was asked to pick between “Lucky People” and “21 Questions,” with the latter winning by an overwhelming margin. These moments make each night on the tour special for members of the audience. Also, for those following the whole tour across the country, it allows them to hear different songs in each city.

It’s clear that Waterparks are a band continuing to build momentum. Their connection with fans is genuine and powerful, and the scale of this show reflects how far they’ve come. With rumours already circulating about a forthcoming album, there’s a strong sense that this is only the beginning of their next chapter.

Having played the UK as recently as last year, including appearances at Reading and Leeds and a more intimate show at Camden’s Underworld, their return to a packed Kentish Town Forum feels like a natural progression. If Thursday night was anything to go by, it won’t be long before they outgrow venues of this size entirely.