Kaiser Chiefs Tour 2026: More Employment
Professional Music Photography from Blanc Creative in Norwich.
I’ve been shooting bands for years now, and few get me as excited as Kaiser Chiefs. There’s something about their energy, their songs, and yeah, Ricky Wilson – he’s a top bloke. Proper down-to-earth, always up for a chat.
I first met The Kaiser Chiefs and Ricky Wilson back in 2017 at the Isle of Wight Festival.
It was a cracking day, sun out, crowd buzzing. I got to photograph the band up close, and Ricky was brilliant – friendly, chatty, made the whole thing easy.
Back in June 2017, the Kaiser Chiefs took to the main stage at the Isle of Wight Festival on the Friday evening, delivering one of those proper high-energy sets that the band are known for. S
They played a solid mix from their back catalogue It was classic like CLassicKaiser Chiefs: loud, fun, and full of that cheeky Yorkshire attitude that gets people going. Ricky was on top form, he was hanging off the Live Camera feed and bouncing about like he owned the place, and the whole performance felt like a proper celebration of indie rock in the middle of the festival madness.
What really stuck in the memory, though, was Ricky’s bright pink leather jacket – it absolutely popped under the stage lights against the evening sky.
He was leaping around, mic in hand, arms flailing, and that jacket just caught every bit of the spotlight, making him look even more larger-than-life
.
You know though, life gets in the way sometimes, gigs clash, other jobs come up. Roll on seven years, and I was itching for another go.
Fast forward to summer 2025. I was at Latitude Festival, but this time I was gallivanting around as a punter, no press pass, no lenses slung over my shoulder.
Just there to soak it up. My wife wanted to Glastonbury and had never been to a Festival. Latitude was on the doorstep and I thought, let’s do some glamping. She loved it. The downside, we’ve been for rtjhe p[ast three years which means I don’t get to shoot the festival.
But it’s all about striking a work life, wife life balance. And it’s sometimes noice to step back and actually listen to the music you love.
The Chiefs were on fire that day at Latitude. One off their best performances I’ve seen. Belting out the classics.
The middle class crowd was going for it, singing every word. I stood there wishing I was in the pit, remembering why I fell for this band in the first place.
No photos from me that day, but the show stuck with me. It reminded me how much I missed being right in the thick of it.
So when the chance came up for their Kaiser Chiefs Tour in 2026 – the More Employment run celebrating 20 years since their debut album – I jumped at it.
After the massive summer shows in 2025 (Glastonbury, Alexandra Palace, Leeds homecoming), demand was huge, so they added this February leg across the UK. Smaller venues, more intimate vibe. Perfect for photos.
I went for the Norwich date at the Nick Rayns LCR, UEA on February 23rd. It’s a great room. Not too big, but with that proper student-union energy, even though it has some low roofs and difficult to see the stage from the back.
Sold out… Standard.. Rammed from the front to the back. I got my pass sorted, lenses ready and a fast 50mm 1.2 prime, because I knew Ricky was going to be all over the place.
More Employment – An Intimate Concert from The Kaiser Chiefs at UEA Norwich
The band came out and straight away you could feel it – this wasn’t just another gig. They were playing Employment in full, start to finish, in order. Opened with “Everyday I Love You Less and Less” – that riff hits, Ricky’s voice cuts through, and the place erupts.
From the photo pit, I was right there, sweat flying, lights flashing. The backdrops were digital and bright – big, colourful visuals syncing with the tracks, shifting from retro Employment-era graphics to live shots and animations.
Looked fantastic through the viewfinder, gave everything a modern edge while nodding back to 2005.
The set was lively as hell. Ricky was all over the stage, jumping onto the monitors, throwing his microphone stand, getting everyone involved. Tracks like “I Predict a Riot” had the whole room bouncing, arms in the air. “Modern Way”, “Oh My God”, “Born to Be a Dancer” – they flowed perfectly in sequence, and hearing them live like that after 20 years felt special.
The album’s got that raw, urgent feel, and they nailed it without sounding dated.
I managed some cracking shots. The pit was so tight that you couldn’t help shoot the lens up his nose as he leant over. Low stage lighting on some slower bits meant cranking ISO, but the results were worth it – grainy in a good way, capturing the grit.
Rocky threw a drumstick into the audience and then after Modern Way, he asked if the guy wanted to give it back and swap it for the one he’d been using. This interaction really goes to show how he loves working the room and engaging with his audience. I had to laugh.
Seven Years – Two concerts and The Kaiser Chiefs are still as good as ever
But better, in a way. The songs hold up, the energy’s still there, and Ricky’s still a top bloke.
If you’re catching any of the Kaiser Chiefs Tour dates – whether the winter ones or the festivals coming up – go for it.
Grab tickets if you can, take it in. And if you’re a photographer, get in that pit. Moments like this don’t come around every day.
Cheers to the Chiefs for keeping it going strong. Here’s to more employment, more gigs, more photos.
If you like this post and the images, how about heading to the More Than Just Music Page on the website. It’s literally rammed with a massive amount of recent and retrospective looks at concerts spanning the past decade and more.
