Royel Otis - Bristol Sounds 2026

With Canons Marsh bathed in fading sunlight, Bristol Sounds once again transformed the harbourside Amphitheatre into the beating heart of the city. After six nights of standout performances, there could hardly have been a more fitting act to close than Royel Otis, as the annual summer series wrapped up another stellar year.

Four years could feel like a lifetime for a band on the rise, and a great deal has changed since I last saw the Australian duo tucked away on the line-up at Cardiff's Sŵn Festival back in 2022. 

With just a handful of EPs to their name at the time, they've since released two critically acclaimed albums, toured globally, sold out shows, and packed out festival tents as they've grown into one of indie's most compelling live acts. Something that was clear to see as the crowd packed in whilst the band dispensed with any sense of ceremony before they got straight to business. 

Opener i hate this tune was quick to set the pace as it crashed into Adored, before Heading for the Door and who’s your boyfriend followed in quick succession, setting the tone for a set that rarely paused for breath. 

Songs flowed seamlessly into one another, each transition more effortless than the last as the band maintained a relentless pace throughout. It gave the set a thrilling sense of momentum as they rode a wave of indie-pop euphoria that refused to let up.

Newer material from hickey slotted comfortably alongside older favourites, underlining just how confidently the band had expanded their catalogue. Car shimmered with effortless charm, while Kool Aid had the entire amphitheatre swaying before erupting into one of the loudest singalongs of the night.

Elsewhere, Foam and Come On Home highlighted the duo’s knack for pairing hazy indie-pop textures with undeniable hooks, their laid-back delivery belying just how tightly constructed the songs were.

Thankfully, the weather had cooled slightly following the previous week’s heatwave, but there was still a warm, scintillating atmosphere in the air as their sun-drenched, jangle-heavy sound lit up the shimmering industrial backdrop and concrete skyline.

As polished as the set was, the evening’s most memorable moments came from spontaneity. During Linger, Royel Otis invited a fan named Abby onto the stage to share vocals, turning their now-beloved cover of The Cranberries into an unforgettable highlight. Elsewhere, an impromptu on-stage proposal unfolded, prompting a heartfelt response from the band, who dedicated Sofa King to the newly engaged couple. An extra layer of significance to an already fan favourite moment.

With the words “This is a song we didn’t write” flashed onscreen, one of the night’s many playful quips (alongside “Show us your croooked teeth”), their cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder on the Dancefloor once again proved irresistible, transforming the disco classic into their own.

"This is our last song Bristol", Otis announced ahead of say something. But fans weren't easily fooled. Returning for a two-track encore, the band rewarded the audience’s energy with the soaring Sweet Hallelujah before closing on fan favourite Oysters in My Pocket - a track that had clearly grown alongside them. 

“I Wanna Dance with You?” Royel Otis need not have asked earlier in the set; the crowd’s reaction had already shown they had them firmly in the palm of their hand. A masterclass in high-energy, tightly constructed set-listing, and a reminder of just how far they'd come. The question now: where next for a band already commanding stages of this size with such ease?

Setlist
01. i hate this tune
02. Adored
03. Heading for the Door
04. who’s your boyfriend
05. car
06. Kool Aid
07. Foam
08. moody
09. come on home
10. shut up
11. she’s got a gun
12. more to lose
13. jazz burger 
14. Linger (The Cranberries cover)
15. Motels
16. I Wanna Dance with You
17. Bull Breed
18. Fried Rice
19. Sofa King
20. Murder on the Dancefloor (Sophie Ellis-Bextor cover)
21. say something

Encore
22. Sweet Hallelujah
23. Oysters in My Pocket

*****