Rock and Roll Circus: Catching up with The Kooks ahead of huge show

The four day feast of entertainment takes place at Don Valley Bowl in Sheffield from August 27-30, with The Kooks kicking things off with the headline set on Thursday.

We caught up with frontman Luke Pritchard for a chat ahead of one of the band’s biggest dates of the year.

Interviewer: So, I'll get this thing started by stating that Inside In/Inside Out (the band’s album, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary) became an unprecedented defining blueprint for British indie. Looking back now two decades later, what strikes you most about the young band that wrote those internationally recognised tracks compared to who you are on stage today – as in what has changed most within you and the band since the debut?

Luke: “I don’t think anything really prepares you for it.

"But I suppose the chemistry we came up with Tony Hoffer for a debut album was pretty special, you know - like we came out of the gates with a real musical record.

"And I think that was a testament to Tony actually who brought out the musicianship of the songs.

"But as people, I don’t know, two aren’t playing in the band anymore, so its like bittersweet, you know what I mean? Still friends but I suppose the music industry isn’t for everyone.”

Interviewer: Going back again to the debut does it surprise you how quickly it got the attention of the UK public?

Luke: “I mean, we were just really blown away, we thought that energy would’ve come with a second or third album, but it was just amazing how it caught people’s attention at that time.

"You know that song (Naïve) just seems to have had a kind of weird - especially a song for an indie band to do.

"To be fair, it was a bit outside of the box, so I think I'm quite happy we got that one out at that time.”

Interviewer: Well, touching on Naive and all the tracks from that album. Do those songs in particular like feel like historical snapshots you're preserving, or do they still tend to like to shapeshift live for yourself?

Luke: “I mean, there's always going to be universal themes, you know, like Naive, like you know, being cheated on or thinking you're being cheated on, and the paranoia and all that-that's like a universal thought.

“But, but for me, yeah, they are. It's an absolute snapshot.

"I can remember. I mean, some of them are specific things that happened. You know, like Seaside.

"Do you know what I mean? It's like obviously every time I play it, I just remember being on the balcony with Paul, just literally looking out at the sea in Brighton, and it reminds me of all the messiness of living in Brighton at that time.

"So yeah, it is a bit of a snapshot, and music is kind of olfactory, right? So yeah, I get the nostalgia every time I play the songs, which keeps them alive for me as well.

Interviewer: Well, moving on to your audience, does it sort of baffle you when you look out to the crowd and see faces younger than like the album itself?

Luke: “Well, it's kind of how it should be, right? I mean, I'm so happy about it, But it's great but it does baffle me.

“I'm grateful that people picked up on it. I'm grateful to all the other artists that have talked about us, the younger ones, maybe the people go back to that record.

"So yeah, but its great, you know. Also, 20 years is a kind of cycle, you know.

“When I was 16, I probably just listened to music from the 60s, so I was like way back. So yeah,it’s just a great thing to see. It keeps those songs alive for us as well, keeps them fresh.

Interviewer: Speaking on eras of music, with the likes of The Strokes, yourselves, The Wombats, Two Door Cinema Club etc, all those bands from the 2000s.

Why do you think they're so popular with Gen Z right now? And do you feel any distinct difference in the energy between the original fans and the teenagers at arenas today?

Luke: “I mean, it seems to me that people are craving like some analogue in their lives.

“I imagine looking back, it seems like such a more kind of free and sort of flamboyant time. It was a very, very peaceful time.

"I mean, there's always stuff going on, but you know, it was like we didn't have so many of the worries that this generation have, and I think they probably find escapism in that because it was quite frantic and hectic. It was kind of all just about nightlife, you know, just about getting out and the indie club thing, I think people find escape.

“The kids now probably find escapism in that. It's quite a claustrophobic time, I think.

"You know, people weren't forced to have an opinion on everything at that time. You know, it's just kind of a little bit looser. And I guess in some ways that's what attracted me to the 60s, you know. It it just keeps going.

Interviewer: Never/Know is your most recent release. Now 20 years on, how do you manage to keep that creative drive fresh when you're like simultaneously celebrating a 20-year milestone?

Luke: “Well, thank you for your compliment. I'll give you one.

"That is a great question. It makes me feel slightly vulnerable because it is quite hard, and you know, I do doubt myself sometimes.

"And when you've made lots of records, and you know you have to try to not get on the hamster wheel, because you’ve still got to wake up.

"I just love being around music and making music, but finding potency in songwriting - it gets harder.

"There's a reason why we generally like people's earlier work. Probably because a lot of the time they didn't really know what they're doing.

"So I try and get back to my inner child a bit sometimes.

"I really like the new albumwe're just working on now, which is nearly finished – it has been a really good creative time.

"I think Never Know was like the stepping stone back, really.

"We just did it all ourselves. It was just about having fun, reconnecting with the more DIY thing, rather than using great studios to write while you're doing it.

"It was all done in a really organic way, and I think it was a stepping stone to the next one, and that really helped.

"I think I the key is to get deeper all the time, but it's quite hard. It's a vulnerable spot, and when you get older, you can brick up those walls, so you got to try and knock them down.

Interviewer: What has headlining arenas and festivals two decades in taught you about the durability of the band's connection? Do you all miss the intimate rush of those smaller academy or grassroots shows?

Luke: “Well, we're in a cool place because we kind of do it all really. I mean, we sometimes go back to smaller rooms and smaller festivals and things, and then we're doing the big stuff.

"The coolest thing for us is we're kind of doing our biggest shows ever, which is kind of nuts.

"It feels mad. We all just sit around. We're like, it's funny.

"We never did those kind of huge rooms whenour first album came out, so for us it's all kind of new.

“We're like the cockroach - we just won't go away. And so yeah, I think again, it's similar to the last question.

"It's like there's more expectation and stuff – there's real freedom to like the fact that you're playing in places no one really knows you and you're like fighting, and then all of a sudden, almost overnight, you're kind of like the old garden, and so there's expectation.

"But again, just it's just cool that our sort of journey as a band's been worthwhile because it hasn't been, it's been kind of slowed, you know which has meant that we still get the rush of those moments even now.

Interviewer: With Sheffield being your next destination, who's your favourite Yorkshire based artist? Bonus points if they come from Sheffield.

Luke: “I think Pulp are pretty amazing. You think I'm going to say Arctic Monkeys, don't you?

Interviewer: To be honest I was personally thinking Self Esteem or the Human League.

Luke: “It's pretty amazing. It's a pretty rich city in music history. Pretty amazing. It is, yeah. I have always had good receptions there, you know. I liked that venue, The Leadmill.

Interveiwer: You played there in 25, didn't you?

“We did, yeah. Yeah, that was cool to come back to it after all those years and back to a city of such rich music culture.”

• The Kooks will headline Rock N Roll Circus in Sheffield on Thursday August 27th. Final tickets available at www.rocknrollcircus.co.uk/sheffield.

Rock and Roll Circus 2026: Countdown on to this year's spectacular

By Luc Burke-Lejeune

Published 16th Jun 2026, 16:34 BST

Doncaster daily bulletin June 16: Darren Burke with the headlines

The countdown is on to one of South Yorkshire’s biggest music spectaculars.

The countdown is on to one of South Yorkshire’s biggest music spectaculars.

Rock N Roll Circus has officially unveiled its stacked four-day lineup for its return to Sheffield’s Don Valley Bowl.T

he major UK festival is set to take place from Thursday, 27 August to Sunday, 30 August.

Rock and Roll Circus is back for 2026. Photo: Luc Burke-Lejeune

Alongside top-tier musical acts, the event promises its signature blend of aerialists, stilt walkers, and a brand-new "Rock N Roll Circus Spectacle Show."

Thursday: Indie veterans The Kooks kick off the opening night.

Friday: British hip-hop pioneers The Streets take the main stage.

Saturday: Rising rock force Wunderhorse leads a day that is already nearly sold out.

Sunday: Legendary frontman Richard Ashcroft closes out the final night.

Also on the bill are Babyshambles, The Fratellis, Milburn, Miles Kane, English Teacher, Casisdead, Baxter Dury, Embrace, Cast, Fat Dog, The Molotovs,The Clause, Cruz Beckham and the Breakers, Everly Pregnant Brothers, Hak Baker, Villanelle, Goo and Sofy.

Rock N Roll Circus brings together the best of live music and world-class circus performance in one unforgettable show.

Audiences can experience top music artists alongside breathtaking circus acts, creating a high-energy spectacle, where incredible live music meets the excitement, skill, and visual magic of the circus!

It is a welcoming and accessible festival, making it a great choice for first-time festival goers.

With a friendly atmosphere, clear facilities, and an exciting mix of live music and circus entertainment, it’s designed to be enjoyable for everyone.

Not only does Rock N Roll Circus offer performances from some of the best music talent, but the incredible circus team never fails to amaze!

Ranging from aerialists, highwire artists, fire performers, jugglers, stilt walkers, hood artists, silks performers, and trapeze artists.

Get ready for a spectacular show.

You can also get involved in the circus activities yourself, led by the local Circus school to offer everyone a chance to get involved and learn circus skills.

There will be juggling, diablos, plates, hula hoops, flower sticks and more.

For full details visit https://www.rocknrollcircus.co.uk/