02 October 2025 (gig)
05 October 2025
Twenty-one years after their last tour, The Beta Band are standing before a sold-out crowd at London’s iconic Roundhouse, for the first of two highly anticipated nights. Their ‘3 EPs’ Tour has seen seminal Scottish four-piece bring their avant-garde spirit to an audience of loyal fans who gaze upon them like superheroes. And believe me, there was plenty to hold our attention.
The gig started with a 10-minutes of clips from their younger years and, once finished, the band emerged in colourful boiler suits onto stage decorated in leafy greenery (and a novelty bird) surrounded by a kaleidoscopic swirl of lights and lasers (reminiscent of an old-school ‘90s rave).
Tonight was all about the cult trilogy of: Champion Versions, Los Amigos del Beta Bandidos, and The Patty Patty Sound. From the very first track 'Inner Meet Me', the crowd was instantly immersed in the band’s trippy, psychedelic and experimental world, as they take us on a wholly hypnotic, sprawling, and unpredictable ride, 'Dry The Rain' was, of course, a high point. By the time we reached the track’s signature crescendo, our voices joined as one to chant, “It’ll be okay.” It was a communal experience that felt profound, both in an intimate and epic sense, like we were all one.
Another standout was 'Push It Out' showcasing the band’s ability to bend structure and genre, mixing groove-driven basslines with ambient textures and found sounds. It was a perfect reminder hearing how far ahead of their time they always were. Even as they dipped into later albums including ‘Squares’ from Hot Shots II and ‘Assessment’ from Heroes to Zeros, these tracks blended seamlessly into the set, proving that even their more polished, radio-ready material still carried that unmistakable Beta Band vibe.
The band spent the evening moving. Multi-instrumentalists to the core, they rotated between guitars, synths, and many pieces of percussion scattered across the stage. It felt like watching a sonic laboratory in action. They were a band tinkering away.
As ground-breaking as they were two decades ago, The Beta Band still hold up. Even more so now, in an age where genre boundaries have all but disappeared.
Setlist:
1. Inner Meet Me
2. She's the One
3. It's Not Too Beautiful
4. Assessment
5. Alleged
6. Push It Out
7. Needles in My Eyes
8. Dog's Got a Bone
9. Dr. Baker
10. B + A
11. Dry the Rain
12. Broke
Setlist:
Encore:
13. I Know
14. Squares
15. The House Song
