Kiefer Sutherland Band – Live Review – O2 Academy Leeds
By Victoria Holdsworth, June 2026
On a blisteringly hot evening, the O2 Academy Leeds turned up the temperature even further with a sweat-soaked, high-energy performance from Kiefer Sutherland and his band on the last night of his ‘Love Will Bring You Home’ tour.
Better known to some as a Young Gun, a Lost Boy and the hero of 24, Sutherland proved that his musical talents are every bit as powerful as his acting abilities, as he and his tight, road-hardened band delivered a country-rock performance to rival any honky-tonk band in Nashville.
The set kicked off with ‘Down Below’, from his new album, Grey. This was a strong, brooding and atmospheric opener, with Sutherland’s gravelly voice immediately commanding the room, slicing straight through the thick, humid air, while his band locked into a tight, driving groove. It was clear this was no slick celebrity side project. This was going to be a proper, road-tested rock show, delivered with plenty of heart.
The crowd tonight was a healthy mix of die-hard fans, curious 24 followers and country enthusiasts, who all appeared to be hooked immediately, especially when it came to some of his chosen cover songs throughout the set.
Garbage’s ‘I’m Only Happy When It Rains’ was given some extra muscle and completely rearranged to suit Sutherland’s style and vocals, and it absolutely rocked. The nearly sold-out crowd sang every word back to him, to which he genuinely looked a little taken aback, before smiling back at his audience from under the brim of his hat, looking quite pleased with the curveball he had just thrown into the mix.
Another new track, but written from the pages of a past life, ‘Goodbye California’ is a story with some gorgeous imagery, woven between an unmistakable blend of hazy shoegaze and desert rock, painting a sonic reflection of the darker side of the American dream. The guitar riffs were layered and tremolo-soaked, creating a shimmer over the whole arrangement, which was definitely a stand-out tune from the off, accompanied by his own personal stories about his life, successes and disappointments.
image: Beth Elliott
“Emotionally charged”
Declaring to his captivated crowd, “I’ve never been someone to tell people how to live their lives, but if I did, it would be this next song, because life is too short not to do something you love,” he blasted into the infectiously catchy ‘Something You Love’, from his 2019 LP Reckless & Me, quickly followed by ‘Come Back Down’, which could easily have been included on either of the Young Guns soundtracks. The thing that really stood out about this offering was how perfectly Sutherland’s weathered voice suits the tales of heartbreak, redemption and small-town life that dominate his catalogue.
Next up was a cover of an absolute classic, ‘Can’t You See’, originally a track by the Marshall Tucker Band. It got the whole room swaying, proving his band can swing with the best of them, and it certainly raised the tempo for another couple of back-to-back stand-out tunes in the set: ‘Ol’ Lonely Life’, with its slick guitar work, and the more tempered ‘Chasing The Rain’, both possessing real emotional weight.
‘American Farmer’ is a haunting number, particularly the pedal steel and lead guitar work, which gave the song a rich, authentic Americana sound that translated surprisingly well to a burning-hot Leeds night. But it was the following number, ‘Simpler Time’, that was a joy to listen to, and reminiscent of Bryan Adams. The hooks on this song are infectious, and the crowd bobbed and swayed in all the right places as the band thoroughly enjoyed themselves on stage.
The head vampire soon came up against the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne.
‘See You On The Other Side’ was a very emotional Ozzy cover, dedicated to all the greats we have lost, including his own father, Donald. This was not just a cover. It was a masterpiece of a rework, and while the lyrics and sentiment of the song remained the same, the arrangement, with bottleneck guitar and an almost Civil War drum beat, was captivating. With Kiefer’s vocal range emotionally charged, it truly was something special, and with a noticeable nod to his father at the end of the song, the lump in his throat could be felt across the room.
Lifting the vibe slightly, he strummed into ‘Love Will Bring You Home’, which felt like a genuine moment of connection between artist and audience. It was intimate, and its themes of hope and homecoming resonating with the crowd.
image: Victoria Holdsworth
“Lost in the music”
Other great tunes tonight, including ‘Two Stepping In Time’ and ‘Friday Night’, brought honest bar-room, spit-and-sawdust energy and had everyone’s feet in the O2 stomping.
‘This Is How It’s Done’ is an absolute energy-fuelled, whiskey-slamming banger of a tune, and one of the reviewer’s absolute favourites. But the last few songs of the set tonight were among the ultimate Kiefer Sutherland songs.
‘Down in A Hole’ oozes punchy riffs and staccato beats, peaking and exploding in just the right places, with brooding, dark anticipation coupled with some smooth rhythm guitar, bringing the whole package together perfectly.
‘Friday Night’, the penultimate song of the set tonight, saw this slightly older young gun throwing his hat to the back of the stage with abandon, really letting his hair down, clearly enjoying every moment and getting completely lost in the music, which was a delight to see. He then ended on the energetic, vibrantly Mexicana and sleazy blues-riddled ‘Agave’, which turned the front section of the Academy into an impromptu dance floor despite the stifling temperature.
The two-song encore came in weirdly with a cover of Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’, and no matter who covers it, the reviewer just does not like this song, although its iconic musical status is easy to appreciate. However, it was the jarringly lulling story of ‘Starlight’, entangled in softly strummed guitar, with an almost Del Amitri-esque flavour to it, that ended the night and the tour on a beautifully raw finale. Sutherland’s band, a crack unit of seasoned musicians, were flawless, shifting effortlessly between rock, country swing and acoustic sensitivity, even in the oppressive heat.
For an artist who could easily coast on his Hollywood fame, his commitment to this music feels refreshingly authentic. Kiefer himself was in excellent form, chatty, humble and visibly grateful to be playing music in the UK again, sharing a few stories between songs. He genuinely comes across as the kind of artist who loves what he is doing, delivering it with real heart and zero pretension.
Top image: Beth Elliott
Victoria is a former English teacher and lifelong musician who has successfully combined her two great passions: words and music. Over the past 20 years, she has written for a variety of publications, giving her the opportunity to witness outstanding talent and meet some truly inspiring individuals. With a deep love for rock, indie, metal, and all things weird and wonderful in between, Victoria also co-runs an independent record label.
