Written and edited by Kelly-Mae Matt
Live photos taken by Kelly-Mae Matt unless stated otherwise.
Back on 13th September, I was given the opportunity to watch Re:O live for the first time at the Fiddler’s Elbow in one of my favourite places; Camden, London. It’s an experience I have been anticipating since I first heard their song Violets back in April of this year, and with my birthday the following day, this was the perfect occasion for me to make my way to London to listen to the group live.
The journey there itself is nothing to write home about—there was a train, a short walk to where I was staying that night and then some time to relax before the show—but the anticipation at finally getting to see the band and speak to them filled me with excitement. I was also riling myself up with the knowledge that I would finally, finally get to hear the groups latest single, Crimson Desire, live; this is a song that was made to be sung in front of a crowd, and it was the very song I wanted to hear most from Re:O that night.
So with that excitement only growing the later the day became, I headed over to Camden to find the Fiddler’s Elbow, a pub that boasts itself as a legendary venue for live music in London. Regardless of the genre or how new or seasoned a group or performer is, the Fiddler’s Elbow aims to bring a plethora of music to its stage for fans of music to enjoy.
When I finally reached the venue, I was greeted by the sight of someone I had not expected to see just yet. There, standing just outside the doorway was Rio, dressed in a gorgeous purple and black outfit styled around the traditional kimono. With cute smile and an abundance of energy, Rio immediately beckoned me into the building to introduce me to her bandmates and Rogue Awakening, another group that would be playing alongside Re:O and the Italian rapper Red Sky, who the group has previously collaborated with for the song Kanashimu Toki Wa (Reloaded).
There was not a lot of time before Re:O’s set began, so after a quick chat with Rio (Vocals), James (Bass) and J (Drums)—The elusive new guitarist, Alex, was hidden somewhere in the shadows, I believe—the band went to set up the stage while I quickly perused the merch table that held t-shirts (I definitely snapped one of those up), polaroid’s of the group and a cute keychain designed by Rio herself. Then I was finally heading off to grab a drink for myself and find a spot in front of the stage.
Slowly but surely, more and more people trickled into the venue, ready for the night to begin. There were fans sporting Re:O shirts, while others came in their work or regular clothing, echoing that feeling of a true Japanese live show in Camden Town. The audience grew and while the Fiddler’s Elbow is by no means a small venue, it quickly became an intimate setting, one that was perfect for an up-close and personal performance that would undoubtedly be burned into mine and the other fans’ memories by the end of the night.
Walking on-stage, the members of Re:O looked both elegant and striking in their black garments accented with purple. Backlit by the purple lights that had been set around the stage, Rio struck a pose as the music came to life.
Opening with one of their most popular tracks, Ronin, Re:O immediately brought the crowd to their feet. Energetic and passionate, there was no doubt that Re:O had set out to start the night the way they planned to end it: Loud, energetic and absolutely unforgiving in their passionate display.
(Oh, and they brought a freakin’ katana on stage. How badass is that!?)
Seasoned fans of the groups quickly sang along, jumping or banging their heads to the music, their fists raised high in the air as Re:O put on a spectacular performance. This continued with the tracks Marionette and The Haunted—two songs that are equal in power to Ronin—and further igniting the flames of passion and energy into the crowd as everybody cheered Re:O on.
It was during these tracks in particularly that I was struck by the individual performances of the band. Alex, the newest member of the group, caught my attention a few times while Re:O performed; perhaps a little unassuming at first, there is no denying that Alex absolutely shines while playing the guitar. You can see from the way he plays that this is a man who truly loves and respects the art of music. Not only that, but you can also see the admiration he holds for his fellow bandmates, and I feel quite honoured to have been able to witness Alex’s talent in-person during this live performance.
James is equally just as passionate and driven on bass, and there is no doubt that his personality truly comes through on stage. Playful yet serious, I found James’ performance quite mesmerising; his energy matches Rio’s perfectly when it comes to performing together. He captures the intensity of the songs beautifully when playing live, and it is so clear to anyone that watches him perform that the music truly fuels him both in sound and lyrically.
J is also a force to be reckoned with. Though drummers are usually at the back of the stage, the sheer determination and hard work J put into their performance was truly astounding. Much like his bandmates, J is highly skilled in his craft and throws in every ounce of energy he had to offer for that performance. There were moments I just wanted to watch him play the drums because of how intense he felt and how much power he was throwing into the song, truly bringing the power of the lyrics to the forefront thanks to his effort. I also have to give J props for doing all this stationary while surrounded by lights; it must have been incredibly warm in the back while everyone else was able to move around the stage.
And there was Rio, whose energy truly shined on stage. Cute and sweet off stage, Rio truly becomes a force to be reckoned with once she has that microphone in her hand.
When it comes to expression, be it physically or vocally, Rio is unmatched. When she starts singing, you can see the music flow through her body, feel the emotion in her voice and see the flicker of sadness, desire, pain and more in her expression. She is truly a master of embodying the music that she performs and if that wasn’t enough, she also brings that same energy to the crowd. Not only that, but she highly encourages crowd participation, much like many other groups before Re:O, however there is something about Rio herself that draws you into this world of music that she has created. Whether she is jumping around on stage or in the crowd (which she totally did, and everybody followed her lead), her passion and love for the craft is clear to see and hear, and there is no doubt that Rio will pull you in.
She’s like the Pied Piper of Hamlin, I suppose; Rio has a remarkable ability to bring people together through the music that Re:O creates. She is also mesmerising, powerful and energising and brings us into this world of music that brings us joy and evokes strong emotions. She is incredible, and I can only praise Rio for her performance and the passion she brings to the stage as a singer.
The songs that followed included Violets, Stains on My Soul and Guild, the first of which happens to be my introduction to the groups music. A more sombre affair, Violets was a personal, touching display and showcased the vulnerability of the group beautifully. It felt personal and heartfelt and, once again, Rio’s ability to showcase her emotions both vocally and through her expressions and even in her body was absolutely incredible to witness in-person. You could truly feel the tonal shift when Violets came on and while the crowd certainly moved to the music, it felt quieter compared to before, a little more sombre if you will. There was great appreciation from the crowd throughout the performance of Violets, and there is no denying that all of the members of Re:O delivered an exceptionally emotional performance that felt both beautiful and haunting.
Stains on My Soul and Guild soon followed, and while I had admittedly not heard the former prior to this performance, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this song sounded quite different to the tracks we have heard from Re:O before this. Of course, I think that this was a perfect track to follow Violets, one that highlights Rio’s incredible vocals while also highlighting the bands talents during a terrific instrumental break at the end of the song.
Guild is also incredibly different sound-wise and a wonderful throwback to Rio’s early days as a soloist. It’s a song that undeniably highlights how far she has come as a performer and one that allowed the fans gathered there that night to appreciate Rio’s hard work and desire to continue climbing higher. So, with that said, it makes sense that Guild would be the song that comes before the grand finale of Re:O’s performance that night, Crimson Desire.
Debuting live for the first time at the Fiddler’s Elbow, Crimson Desire is the newest track in Re:O’s collection of songs and the very product of Rio’s desires as a performer and how far she wishes to go. Filled with passion and frustration, Crimson Desire was the heavily anticipated track of the night that truly set the crowd alight with a chorus of renewed energy, screams and cheers. It was electrifying, to put it simply. Emotional and powerful, certainly. To go from Guild to Crimson Desire was sheer brilliance, a beautiful celebration of just how far Re:O has come and how far they will continue to go.
Once their set had come to an end, Re:O gave their final bows and took a picture with the fans before making their way off-stage for the next performer, Red Sky, an incredible rapper who is not tied to genre, trends or rules.
Blending Italian and Japanese lyrics, there is no denying that Red Sky is a unique artist, one who merges genres and creates an electric, memorable performance that is both beautiful and surprising. Though I am personally not the biggest fan of rap as a genre, I could not help but feel moved by Red Sky’s performance; this is a talented individual, someone who has perfected their craft and created a world that is uniquely theirs. You can feel their heart and soul in their voice when they perform, so it’s honestly no wonder Re:O brought him over to the UK to share his music with us all; Red Sky is honestly incredible, his music is moving, and you can feel how much he loves Japanese culture and music through his songs. Oh, and the fact that Red Sky can not only rap in Italian but also Japanese and still convey his emotions must be noted. Red Sky is simply amazing and someone to be admired.
Unfortunately, I did not get to speak with Red Sky at all during the night of the performance, however I am so thankful I could witness the majestic performance he brought to the Fiddler’s Elbow. And I was not the only one who appreciated his music style and talent; by the end of his set, the floor was once again full of eager, excited individuals who were captivated by his sound. Though not many of the audience knew his name or even performance style at first, there was no doubt that by the end of the night Red Sky had gained some new fans, myself included.
Finally, to end the night, Rogue Awakening took to the stage. Having previously performed alongside them in the past, Re:O was determined to bring Rogue Awakening to the Fiddler’s Elbow in a bid to introduce them to a new crowd. With a slight Dungeons and Dragons theme, Rogue Awakening brought a theatrical approach to the stage as well as a renewed sense of energy and power that both entertained and tickled me while I watched them.
It was a striking performance, to put it simply. With every member walking onto the stage dressed in their adventurers outfits and led by the bewitching dark Goddess, the crowd at the Fiddler’s Elbow was taken on an epic journey alongside Kimberley Voice (Lead Vocals), Tom Corrigan (Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals), Ollie Day (Lead Guitar), James Morgan (Drums) and Zakk Virdee (Bass). With a little bit of story telling, a setlist brimming with incredible vocals and amazing songs, as well as a (chocolate) coin or two thrown in our direction (and yes, I caught one), there was no doubt in my mind that Rogue Awakening brought the crowd of the Fiddler’s Elbow to their knees with their exhilarating performance.
Tom Corrigan was especially enchanting in his role as the narrator. When he is on-stage, he transforms into this confident, almost suave character who would fit perfectly in the world of Dungeons and Dragons. Entertaining, funny and a gifted vocalist and guitarist, I absolutely adored the story that Tom weaved on stage for the fans to follow. He is a performer who knows how to set the tone for the night and created the perfect atmosphere for the Fiddler’s Elbow.
Kimberley, the enchanting vocalist, truly brought that story Tom had weaved to live through her voice, movement and expression. She is a truly captivating individual, someone who is both sensual and delicate in how she moves. Watching her was honestly addictive and mesmerising, and I would happily return to a Rogue Awakening live just for Kimberely alone. She is an incredible performer with amazing vocals and someone who deserves nothing but praise for her talent.
The other members of the group were just as incredible. Ollie was another person I loved to watch throughout the performance; his expressions were entertaining and his energy was second to none, and his interactions with Kimberley were some of my favourites throughout the performance.
On the drums, James created such an impactful performance; the sheer power he put into those drumsticks was amazing. I always love to watch drummers in action regardless of the genre of music because not only do they look cool, their determination when playing the drums is also incredibly inspiring for mew as a viewer.
Finally, there was Zakk, the newest member of the group, and another incredible person to watch perform. For someone so young, you can truly see how passionate and driven Zakk is when playing bass. His energy is unparalleled and I had a hard time taking my eyes off of him throughout the entirety of the performance. I am so glad that he is bringing his talent to Rogue Awakening, because much like his bandmates, he truly brings the music and story of the show to life.
I really loved watching Rogue Awakening, and I can say with certainty that I have become their fan. If I am ever given the chance to see them live again, I will happily attend and support them. Their music is addictive and their performance style is nothing short of captivating, so if you have yet to see them perform live and love a group that weaves story telling with a theatrical performance and incredible music that speaks to your soul, then definitely give them a chance. Rogue Awakening is worth it, and I am so thankful to Re:O for bringing them to the Fiddler’s Elbow so that others could find them, too.
And so a night filled with music and joy came to an end, and with that, so did my first time witnessing Re:O, Red Sky and Rogue Awakening live. Of course, I hope this is not the last time I get to witness their greatness in person again, because these are three truly incredible performers than need to be heard in-person as opposed to on a computer or a sound system.
The night of September 13th, 2025 at the Fiddler’s Elbow in Camden was an experience. I came for Re:O and left with two new acts to follow thanks to their powerful, memorable performances that have been ingrained in my memories and will live there forevermore, and I have Re:O to thank for that.
For Re:O, I cannot help but solidify the fact that this group is spectacular not only in their music, but as individuals as well. Each one of them is a talent to be reckoned with, and I only hope that even more people can come to recognise their talent and love for music, and help the group to climb even higher within the indie music scene because, hand on my heart, they deserve it so much.
All three of these amazing acts brought the venue to life with their music. Now, I want to see them all continue to bring their music to even more venues within the UK and Europe, no, the world, and showcase their impact with so many others. They are all talented, they are all amazing story tellers in their music, and I believe that they are all more than deserving of your presence at their next live performances, wherever that may be.
Re:O’s next performance will be held at Bedford Esquires on November 15th, 2025. Tickets can be purchased online HERE or on the door.
If you are interested to learn more about Re:O, check out their links below:
Twitter / X
YouTube
Bandcamp
Linktree
If you are interested in learning more about Red Sky, check out his links below:
Official Website
YouTube
Spotify
Linktree
If you are interested to learn more about Rogue Awakening, check out their links below:
Beyond Senpai 