Only The Poets Live at The Deaf Institute
There’s something magnetic about the upstairs room at The Deaf Institute. Its faded grandeur and velvet drapes lend themselves perfectly to a band like Only The Poets: a group who are equal parts heart-on-sleeve intimacy and crowd-commanding anthemic force. On the first of September, the band returned to Manchester for two shows in one night, and if these shows were anything to go by, they’re not just closing a chapter — they’re launching into a whole new era. With the announcement of their debut album, ‘And I'd Do It Again’, the air was thick with anticipation for a new version of Only The Poets.
And just when it seemed the band couldn’t give more, Only The Poets announced something truly ground breaking: they’ll be playing Brixton Academy in February 2026 and tickets will cost just £1. In an age where touring often prices out the very fans who built a band’s foundation, this gesture landed like a promise that Only The Poets haven’t forgotten where they came from and they’re bringing their fans with them every step of the way. More than a statement, it opens the door for people with little to no income to access the scene in today’s unforgiving economy.
There’s something uniquely magnetic about Only The Poets. Their strength lies in making every lyric feel as if it were written just for you. Tracks like ‘Mindset’ and ‘Over & Over’ surged with energy, showcasing the band’s uncanny gift for transforming anxiety and self-doubt into cathartic singalongs. The crowd screamed every word as if it were their last. Frontman Tommy Longhurst owned the stage, not just with presence but with purpose. He wasn’t performing to the crowd; he was with them, creating a real-time connection that felt entirely authentic.
As the set moved into ‘Gone By Now’ and ‘All This Time’, the room swelled with euphoria. Each word was screamed back by a devoted crowd that knew every beat, every breath. These weren’t just fans; they were co-authors of the moment. ‘Saké’ and ‘Emotionally Hungover’ revealed a rawer, more reflective side of the band, still melodic, still polished, but charged with lived-in honesty. ‘Guess She’s Cool’ felt like the band’s quietest heartbreak dressed up in the loudest, most irresistible hook.
But it was ‘I Keep On Messing It Up’ that truly hit the apex of the night. Longhurst’s voice cracked just slightly during the final chorus, a reminder that beneath the polish is a person speaking to a sea of people who’ve felt the same way. Then, with perfect balance, the band pivoted into ‘One More Night’, reigniting the crowd in a blaze of movement and volume. By the time ‘JUMP!’ hit, the floor was literally trembling. Bodies flew, limbs flailed, and within the chaos bloomed pure joy.
‘Looking At You’ carried that joy forward but with more control: a track that showed just how tight the band has become. Every note was deliberate, every shift in dynamic well-earned. And then, the closer: ‘Emotional’. It was both the exhale and the punch to the chest. The band gave everything. The crowd returned it in kind. There were tears, there was shouting, there was total release. It felt like both an ending and a beginning.
This wasn’t just a gig. It was a moment. One of those rare shows where everyone in the room knows they’ll be talking about it for years to come. Only The Poets are no longer rising stars, they’ve arrived. And they’re just getting started, proving they are one the most dedicated, fan driven bands of this day and age.