Poppy Kicked Off Her European Run at Headbangers Parade in Tilburg
Poppy kicked off the European leg of her Constantly Nowhere Tour with a highly anticipated show at 013 in Tilburg as part of Headbangers Parade 2026. After building a strong reputation last summer through festival appearances at Rock am Ring, Download, Jera on Air and more, along with a new album and multiple Grammy nominations, expectations were high and Poppy delivered a performance that showcased the full breadth of her distinctive sound.
The evening kicked off around 7pm when Denver-based Fox Lake hit the stage. Frontman Nathan Johnson quickly got the crowd moving, calling for mosh pits and even a circle pit. Their mix of nu metal, metalcore and hardcore, with a touch of hip-hop, brought powerful riffs, heavy rhythms and strong vocals that immediately excited the audience. Last year, the band released their album New World Heat on MNRK Heavy, and their setlist reflected that, featuring tracks like ‘Go 4 the Throat’, ‘Pure Adrenaline’ and closing with the high-energy ‘Freestyle’.
Ocean Grove followed with equally engaging approach. The Australian trio blended alternative metal with their distinctive style, bringing a fresh dynamic to the stage. Frontman Dale Tanner delivered his lyrics with confidence, frequently jumping from the risers and keeping the performance visually lively. While the audience watched more attentively than wildly moshing, the band still succeeded in drawing people into their sound and atmosphere, offering a nice transition toward the evening’s main act.
Shortly after 9pm, the lights went down and loud cheers filled the packed main hall. All eyes turned to the stage as a bright blue digital narrator announced, “You are now inside the house… the house of Poppy”. Poppy immediately kicked off the set with ‘Bruised Sky’, from her latest album ‘Empty Hands’ (2026). Fans sang along straight away, while she moved confidently across the stage.
Throughout the set, Poppy guided the crowd through a dynamic selection of songs that highlighted the contrast within her music. Heavier tracks like ‘BLOODMONEY’, ‘Scary Mask’ and ‘Concrete’ were met with loud cheers and energetic movement in the crowd, while the more melodic moments created a different atmosphere, with the audience raising phone flashlights and singing along word for word. This balance between intensity and pop sensibility has always been central to Poppy’s appeal and translated well to the live setting.
Visually, the performance was equally striking. Poppy appeared on stage in a playful, fairy-tale-inspired outfit that contrasted with the heavier sound of many of the songs. Behind her, masked band members provided a tight and powerful musical foundation, while maintaining the mysterious aesthetic that has become part of the project’s identity. Smoke cannons and bursts of confetti added extra spectacle at key moments in the set, helping to keep the energy high throughout the night.
In the crowd, fans sang along loudly while a steady stream of crowdsurfers made their way to the front of the stage. Poppy seemed to feed off the energy, moving across the stage and keeping the momentum going. One of the highlights came near the end with a cover of ‘V.A.N.’ by Bad Omens, which drew a huge reaction from the crowd. The set finished with even more crowdsurfers and a massive mosh pit during ‘new way out’, all under clouds of smoke and falling confetti.
Although the set ultimately ran a little over an hour, it successfully launched the European leg of the tour with plenty of excitement. The Tilburg audience clearly embraced the mix of pop, metal and theatrical performance, setting the bar high for what promises to be a memorable run of shows across Europe.