LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: A DAY TO REMEMBER AT THE O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON, LONDON 25/06/25
Full photo gallery here
Florida heavyweights A Day To Remember brought their trademark blend of pop-punk and metalcore carnage to London’s O2 Academy Brixton on 25 June for a second night in a row, and the result was nothing short of pure mayhem. From the opening riff to the final breakdown, the band turned the iconic venue into a warzone of circle pits and nonstop crowd surfing, delivering a relentless, sweaty, and unforgettable performance that affirmed why they remain one of the most electrifying bands in rock.
Joined by UK alt-rock staples Boston Manor, the evening served as a celebration of both genre evolution and the enduring power of community-driven live music. Opening the night with an electrifying set, the outfit showcased exactly why they’ve become a vital part of the UK’s alternative scene. Tracks like ‘Sliding Doors’ and ‘Halo’ hit with refined grit, blending moody atmospherics and crushing riffs. Frontman Henry Cox commanded the stage with ease, encouraging early crowd movement and connecting with fans both old and new.
Launching the set with ‘The Downfall of Us All’, A Day To Remember wasted no time setting the venue ablaze. The breathless energy of ‘I’m Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?’ - featuring Boston Manor’s Henry Cox - immediately set the tone.
'2nd Sucks' ignited a burst of pyrotechnics, intensifying an already explosive performance, while 'Right Back at It Again' unleashed confetti cannons that showered the crowd. Beach balls bounced during ‘Rescue Me’ and the emo-singalong of ‘Have Faith in Me’ flooded the crowd with nostalgia.
Brixton Academy’s atmosphere was electric - and sweaty as hell. Packed to the brim, fans were drenched, but the crowd’s energy never wavered. The band clearly fed off the chaos, encouraging even more crowd participation. At one point, frontman Jeremy McKinnon called out for crowd surfers on top of crowd surfers, calling them ‘‘living legends’’ - and the crowd more than delivered.
A bold cover of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’ halfway through the set added both humour and familiarity - an instant crowd favourite. The explosive ‘All My Friends’ - dedicated to ‘‘all the people drinking tonight’’ - saw more confetti and shirt cannons, making it one of the highlights of the night, alongside ‘All I Want’, which triggered one of the loudest singalongs.
McKinnon took a moment to thank the London crowd, reflecting on how the UK embraced A Day To Remember long before their success caught on back home, also calling the UK ‘‘ground fucking zero from the whole fucking world’’.
The setlist was a well-balanced retrospective, pulling from their early records through to 2021’s You’re Welcome, with newer tracks like ‘Miracle’ and ‘Resentment’, ‘Make It Make Sense’, from their most recent record Big Ole Album Vol.1 with ‘Feedback’, holding their own alongside classics like 2009’s Homesick ‘If It Means A Lot To You’. The set was also filled with surprises that rewarded loyal fans who came back for round 2, the band playing exclusive songs for Night 2 such as ‘Same Team’ or ‘Violence (Enough Is Enough)’.
Hits like ‘Closer Than You Think’ and ‘Flowers’ closed the main set with high energy, with ‘All Signs Point to Lauderdale’ serving as a perfect ending to close off the night.
A Day To Remember transformed Brixton into a roiling pit of passion, nostalgia, and singalong allegiance, offering the perfect blend of brutality and melody. For a band over two decades into their career, A Day To Remember continue to prove they’re one of the most reliable live acts in heavy music. With relentless moshing, an endless stream of crowd surfers, and singalongs that shook the walls, this was the kind of show that reminds you why live music matters.
Words: Florelle Servageon
Photos: Julia Jevzikova
Full setlist below:
The Downfall of Us All
I’m Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?
2nd Sucks
Right Back at It Again
Make It Make Sense
Paranoia
Same Team
Rescue Me
Have Faith In Me
Walk
Since U Been Gone
All My Friends
Violence (Enough Is Enough)
Mr. Highway’s Thinking About The End
Resentment
Feedback
LeBron
Miracle
All I Want
Closer Than You Think
If It Means a Lot to You
Flowers
All Signs Point to Lauderdale
