LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: STEPHEN SANCHEZ AT THE ROUNDHOUSE 11/05/26
Stephen Sanchez concluded his ‘Sing Love Again‘ tour in London on May 11th 2026 at the Roundhouse. He began his career in 2020 by posting covers on TikTok before eventually going viral. The American singer-songwriter is known for his 1950s-inspired retro-pop sound and gained massive popularity with his 2021 song ‘Until I Found You’. The hit song was reportedly written in just ten minutes and even caught the attention of Sir Elton John, who called Sanchez a brilliant songwriter.
Sanchez was supported by TORS, a UK-based indie-pop trio formed in 2016 by brothers Theo and Matt Weedon alongside drummer Jack Bowden. They delivered a fun, electrifying set while also inviting the audience into their world by sharing the stories behind some of their songs. When introducing one track, Weedon told the crowd that he had written it for Jack after he went through a heartbreak and ended up staying on his couch for a while. He joked ‘‘He cried a lot“.
The close connection between the three is obvious, which translates naturally into their onstage chemistry. Even though they were only the support act that night, their connection with the crowd was just as strong as with each other, with some fans in the front rows singing along loudly throughout their set. Before performing ‘Miracle’ as their final song, Weedon told the audience ‘‘It‘s a privilege to be in this room with you tonight. This song is about chasing dreams and this is a dream come true“. He also thanked Sanchez and his team for an amazing tour.
Shortly after, Sanchez stepped onto the stage and immediately filled it with his presence, dancing wildly through the opening songs and moving energetically from one side of the stage to the other. Often Sanchez‘s moves and stage presence brought a young Elvis Presley to mind, perfectly complementing his 1950s-inspired style. He didn’t just sing on stage, he owned it, drawing the audience in from the very first moment.
After several high-energy songs, Sanchez brought the energy down. He spoke about touring his latest record Love Love Love, sharing how blessed he felt to have been able to perform the songs live on tour before the album was even released. The record came out on May 8th, just three days before the closing night of the tour. ‘‘Before the whole world got it, y‘all got it and we’re very grateful for that“ Sanchez told the crowd.
Sanchez didn’t just stand out through his performance style, his dancing or his 1950s influences, he was especially impressive vocally. After performing his 2023 song ‘Be More‘, even some of the seated audience got up on their feet, followed by a long and loud round of applause. It was during this song, particularly in the higher notes, that Sanchez’s vocal talent really stood out. The singer-songwriter responded with humour, ‘‘You’re gonna make my face burn. Can you boo for a second to keep my head small?“ before adding ‘‘My cheeks hurt“.
The audience was notably diverse, with a mix of younger and older fans, women and men, as well as plenty of couples. Before performing ‘Love Love Love‘ Sanchez shared a meaningful message, especially in today’s society; ‘‘We have to love our enemies, our neighbours and try to find similarities instead of differences“. He continued ‘‘Look around. In this whole room, there’s a person with a different face from you“. Reflecting on the power of live music, he added ‘‘Music exists and it brings people into places like this despite what they believe or what they look like. Music is the universal language. Everyone’s here together and it‘s a beautiful thing“.
Sanchez has already built up a strong musical catalogue, often incorporating trumpet arrangements into his songs. His music clearly draws on old-school 1950s influences, an aesthetic that suits both his style and his voice. ‘‘It’s been one hell of a tour. What an amazing city to end it in. I love this city so much“ he told the crowd, before revealing that he had arrived in Europe early to work on something special. ‘‘It’s very secret, eventually it’ll be yours“ he said. He then hinted at future music, adding ‘‘There’s so many songs and all those will turn into album three which will hopefully come out sooner or later“. He then promised the audience that he would return to London in less than two years before joking ‘‘I am making the declaration now. The pressure is on“.
Before performing a new song titled ‘Help Me Run‘ Sanchez shared that he had written the song on top of a cathedral before saying ‘‘I felt like I was connected to heaven for a moment“. The new song, along with several recently released tracks from his latest album, was received well by the audience, who clearly loved the fresh material just as much as the older favourites. ‘‘Are you feeling good about the new stuff?“ he called out before spontaneously deciding to perform another unreleased song called ‘Phone Line‘ which he had never played live before. „I literally never played it for anybody but I felt it was fitting“ he said. After the performance, he added ‘‘I may not play that song ever again, so I’m glad you guys got to hear it“.
Apart from his performance, Sanchez‘s stage design was also striking, featuring two massive hands and an illuminated heart, along with other colorful elements that perfectly complemented the aesthetic and created a beautiful visual setting. When Sanchez performed his smash hit ‘Until I Found You‘ couples leaned into each other’s arms while the entire venue was singing along loudly before he closed his set with one last energetic performance of ‘High‘. Overall, Sanchez delivered a memorable set, pairing powerful vocals with a charismatic stage presence full of 1950s vintage flair. His vintage sound, energetic delivery and the heartfelt moments with the crowd came together to create a show that has definitely left a lasting impression. The night surely felt like a fitting end to Sanchez’s ‘Sing Love Again‘ tour.
Words and photos by Nadine Goetz
