Words by Finn Delisle

Only The Poets Return to Oxford with Big Dreams and Bigger Hearts

Photo by @finn.delisle

The Bullingdon may not have the grandeur of other venues, but on a Tuesday night, it felt like the centre of the universe for Only The Poets and the hundreds of fans crammed into its sweat-slick walls. The band’s return to Oxford, a stop on their ‘Going Back To Where It Began’ tour, was equal parts homecoming and victory lap.

For all their high-energy polish, Only The Poets do not hide behind bravado. Between songs, Tommy’s banter brimmed with sincerity: “It’s so good to be back, man, we’ve missed you so much… this one’s dedicated to all of you beautiful people tonight.” The audience, arms aloft during Gone by Now, screamed lyrics back as if they belonged to them.

Mid-set came news that hinted at the scale of the band’s ambition. Calling for the house lights, Tommy addressed the crowd: “Today we announced our biggest ever show… Brixton Academy, February 2026… five thousand people, one pound a ticket… let’s fucking go!” The Bullingdon erupted, the intimacy of the room briefly reframed as a launchpad to bigger stages.

Still, the band never let the momentum dip. The groovy swing of Saké, their latest BBC Radio 1-blessed single, proved a live highlight, while Looking At You reminded older fans of the group’s journey from backroom gigs to near-mainstream recognition. 

The emotional centrepiece, though, came with One More Night. Beforehand, Tommy asked fans to close their eyes and take themselves “to a beautiful memory.” What could have been cliché instead felt genuine, a moment where the band and audience dissolved into one. 

By the end of the set, the room was electric. JUMP! adequately shook the floorboards, and closer Emotional, a song born in a Reading dive bar, tore open a mosh pit, ending the night with a chaotic joy befitting its name. 

Only The Poets left Oxford not just with cheers, but with the weight of expectation. Their forthcoming debut album, due in January, is, in their words, “a time capsule of highs of lows.” If the Bullingdon show was any indication, they’re ready to turn those emotions into fuel for far bigger crowds. 

Photos by @finn.delisle