LIVE REVIEW: NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS AT PRESTON PARK, BRIGHTON 31/07/26
Photo credit: dougalgorman and Chloe Hashemi
Nick Cave returned to Brighton for his Homecoming Show at Preston Park on July 31st, playing the band’s only UK headline show of the year to 50,000 fans. Cave has lived in Brighton for more than two decades, so his return for such a landmark UK show felt especially fitting. The night also held some surprises, including a reunion with Kylie Minogue on stage for their 1995 murder ballad 'Where The Wild Roses Grow', performed live together for the first time since 2018. The lineup also featured Warmduscher, Cate Le Bon, English Teacher and The Flaming Lips. Earlier that day, fans were also treated to a surprise rooftop performance from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds on top of Resident Records in Brighton, building anticipation for the Preston Park show later that day. Crowds had gathered on North Laine on Friday morning as the band performed songs such as 'Train Long Suffering', which had last been played live in Brighton in 1985 at The Escape Club.
Later that day, Warmduscher kicked off the show with a burst of chaos, while Cate Le Bon brought a more serious tone to the stage. Indie-rock band English Teacher moved seamlessly from gentle melodies into heavier rock moments as frontwoman Lily Fontaine won the crowd over with ease. What followed was The Flaming Lips from Oklahoma, who put on a show that could be described as a spectacle. Their set was packed with props, including pink inflatable robots, giant eyeballs and lips, an Alien costume as well as huge inflatable letters reading '‘Fuck Yeah Brighton'.’ Confetti rained down during the second song while Coyne threw huge balloons into the crowd, kicking their set off with a burst of energy. Frontman Wayne Coyne also brought plenty of charisma, a true showman from start to finish. Early on in the show, he singled out a woman in the fourth row wearing a unicorn suit, noting that it was her 93rd Flaming Lips show before playfully adding 'with the added bonus of Nick Cave today'. Despite the joy and energy of their set, Coyne also made room for more serious moments.
Before playing a new song, he said that the band had only recently started playing it and that it’s about something he’s sure many can relate to. 'When you love someone very deeply and they pass away, a family member or a friend, I would like to believe and hope that their love goes deep inside of you. Their love never goes away, the more you think about them, the deeper this love grows' he said. He added that when you wish that person were still there, something beautiful can happen, like seeing an amazing sunset and thinking 'That’s them'. He then told the crowd that his oldest brother had died about two and a half weeks ago and that he still hadn’t been able to go home, before shouting 'C’mon help us out' earning a loud applause from the crowd. The band also played a cover of Black Sabbath’s 'War Pigs' before they closed their set with 'Do You Realize?' as Coyne thanked the crowd for being so happy, enthusiastic, smiling and laughing as he performed the last song underneath a huge inflatable rainbow.
When Nick Cave stepped on stage in his signature black suit and tie despite the heat, he immediately brought the energy with his band The Bad Seeds. He opened with 'Get Ready For Love' before moving into 'From Her to Eternity'. Before performing 'Train Long Suffering' Cave joked 'We perfected this earlier. We’re gonna fuck it up tonight' referring to their surprise performance at Resident Records earlier that day, though, of course, they did no such thing. He followed with 'Wild God' and fan favorite 'O Children', which Cave dedicated to a child in the crowd as he joked about the night’s age limit: 'If you can all sing this song to this child who somehow sneaked in here'.’
Cave and his band continued with 'Tupelo', 'Carnage' and 'Joy' as he joked '‘This is called Joy. You may not realize that you love this song yet, but you will', drawing a chuckle from the audience. The sunset behind the stage made for an incredible backdrop, adding to the night’s atmosphere. The crowd, especially the fans at the front, were heavily involved, throwing up their arms and singing along loudly as Cave spent most of his time on a small catwalk by the front row, reaching out to fans and even letting them lift him before he jumped into the audience later in the set. '‘I have no idea what we’re doing here. You can actually just gently lower me down’' he playfully said after the song.
Cave has a deeply intense stage presence, one that can feel almost theatrical at times. His songs often explore religion, murder, love and the devil and at times, the performance felt almost like a religious event as he reached out to front-row fans, holding their hands while he strutted along the catwalk. Cave’s music created an almost communal and deeply moving atmosphere in the Brighton park, though those moments were often broken by a more playful energy between songs.
The setlist that night spanned four decades of music, highlighting the contrast between older songs like 'Tupelo' and 'Red Right Hand' and lighter moments from their recent album 'Wild God'. When a fan shouted 'I love you Nick' he replied with a teasing 'Who does?'. When called beautiful, Cave responded '‘No, no. I’m just a reflection. I’m a mirror to your endless beauty'‘ before adding playfully 'Should we stop this?'. Both Cave and the band were on top form, the musical talent and craftsmanship on stage standing out throughout the night. A particular highlight often were the gospel backing vocals, along with the layered instruments and arrangements.
Halfway through the set, the crowd was also treated to a special surprise when Cave brought Kylie Minogue on stage. The pair performed 'Where the Wild Roses Grow', which they had not sung live together since 2018. Minogue told the crowd ‘'I’m here to show my undying love for Nick. I love you so much' as they hugged each other to loud applause. It felt especially fitting for such a special show, with Cave returning to the city where he has spent so much of his life. Before 'The Weeping Song', Cave told the audience '‘Preston Park, this is a weeping song. This is a song in which you weep, while we rock our souls to sleep. But we won’t be weeping long’'.
He then moved into 'Jubilee Street', joking about the real street 'over there' and teasing the Five Guys that has opened nearby. As he sang 'I’m transforming, I’m vibrating' during the song, the moment felt strangely freeing, creating a special atmosphere. Afterwards, Cave introduced 'Hollywood' by saying 'It’s a long song. It’s a beautiful song. It’s a fucking meaningful song to us. We hope you like it. It’s called Hollywood', a song written about the time when Cave and his family left Brighton for Los Angeles in 2015. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds then left the stage before returning for an encore of 'City of Refuge' and 'Wide Lovely Eyes', which he dedicated to his wife Susie, joking 'Wherever she is, it’s about her and about Brighton, about Brighton beach but not the nudist section, a little bit to the left'. He then closed the set alone at the piano with a beautiful, emotional performance of 'Into My Arms' that turned into one last spiritual singalong.
Nick Cave’s Brighton homecoming was a reminder of the city’s lasting place in his story. The night balanced emotion and nostalgia, with Brighton at the center of it all. From the surprise rooftop set at Resident Records earlier that day to Kylie Minogue’s surprise performance and many emotional singalongs, the show felt like a fitting tribute to Cave’s long-lasting connection with the city. In the end, the Preston Park show proved just why Nick Cave’s return to Brighton was always going to be something special.