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In north London, the iconic Roundhouse became a hub for pure indie-folk music and Icelandic magic as Of Monsters and Men’'s The Mouse Parade Tour rolled into town for two special nights. Returning to the capital for their first headline shows in nearly seven years, the band performed with an infectious positivity and humility that turned the historic venue into a massive celebration for old fans and newcomers alike.

First up on stage was fellow Icelandic musician Árný Margrét, who delivered a captivating set. The 24-year-old folk artist stood on the circular stage with just her guitar, delivering an impressive performance defined by her beautiful, soothing vocals. After charming the crowd with a few songs and humble admission of how nice it was to be here, she thanked the audience for their kindness before debuting an unreleased track and exiting the stage with a graceful goodbye kiss to the crowd.

When Of Monsters and Men took the stage, the focus shifted to a career-spanning setlist that highlighted their new album released last year, All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade, including ‘Television Love’ and ‘Dream Team,’ before an early energy shift occurred with the fan favourite ‘King and Lionheart’ from 2011’s debut album My Head Is an Animal, prompting grins and smiles from everyone around.

Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson’s complementary voices were as enchanting as ever. "We are Of Monsters And Men," Nanna greeted the crowd to a roar of applause, "and we’re gonna play some songs tonight!" The band’s chemistry was palpable, especially when Ragnar jokingly introduced the next song ‘Tuna in a Can’ by stating, "This one is about fish."

The musicianship throughout the night was nothing short of elite and a key feature in Of Monsters and Men’s performance. Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson’s drumming was the clear heartbeat for the set, particularly during the rockier track ‘Alligator,’ which saw the crowd erupt into dance moves.

The band members clearly enjoyed the circular stage of the Roundhouse, with Ragnar admitting, "I wish I could play in a circle all the time, it’s better." This intimate configuration reached an emotional peak during ‘The Block,’ where the entire band gathered in a tight circle to sing in unison, creating an ethereal, hauntingly beautiful moment.

Nanna and Ragnar spent much of the night interacting with the front row, praising their high energy:"You guys are great in the front, you’re like ‘‘yeahhhh!!" Nanna laughed, arms in the air, while Ragnar jokingly suggested they should "come to every show."

The setlist perfectly balanced the new and the classic; ‘The Actor’ from their most recent album was an instant fan favourite that triggered instant clapping, while ‘Empire’ and ‘Crystals’ from 2015’s Beneath the Skin turned the Roundhouse into a party. As they reached the iconic ‘Little Talks,’ the band’s spirit remained joyful, clearly moved by the fact that they were playing a second consecutive night at the iconic venue.

As the night closed out with the incredible ‘Fruit Bat’ following a mandatory encore, the sense of community in the room was undeniable. Between the jokes about half the audience being from Iceland and the wonderful performance by the musicians on stage, it was a night defined by light and unity, a perfect evening in north London.