Miles Kane Claims His Throne at a Rain-Soaked Albert Hall

Desh Kapur
1 day ago
2 min read

The Albert Hall, Manchester 31st January 2026

WORDS / IMAGES DESH KAPUR

Miles Kane Claims His Throne at a Rain-Soaked Albert Hall — Photo Credit Desh Kapur

On a rain-lashed Manchester night, the Albert Hall felt like the only place that mattered. Its Baroque and Gothic grandeur loomed through the drizzle as queues snaked down the street, umbrellas locked in battle with the weather. Some fans had been waiting for over two hours in the rain — proper Northern dedication. Inside, the venue filled fast: old-school faces rubbing shoulders with wide-eyed newcomers, parkas everywhere. Mods in force. If Paul Weller is the Modfather, then Miles Kane has officially stepped up as the Modduke.

A wave of younger fans clung tightly to the barrier, many likely drawn by support act Villanelle, fronted by Gene Gallagher — son of Oasis’ Liam and very much carrying the weight of that surname. The band hit the stage in full Stone Island uniform, dripping in cool before a note was played. Gene looks uncannily like his dad, but musically, this isn’t nostalgia cosplay.

Joined by Ben Taylor on lead guitar and Jack Schiavo on bass, Villanelle delivered a sharp, no-frills blast of garage-punk rock. Thick basslines, jagged guitars and snarled vocals powered through a tight set that nodded to Nirvana-era grit without ever tipping into imitation. Gene’s vocals — complete with that familiar Gallagher vowel stretch — cut through confidently, while the front row screamed every word like it already meant everything. Early days, but there’s real bite here.

Then came Miles Kane. Impeccably dressed, effortlessly cool, and entirely in control. The Liverpool native strode onstage like he owned the room — and within seconds, he did. Backed by a band dressed just as sharply, Kane launched into a set that blended indie swagger, Northern soul grooves and full-throttle 70's inspired mod rock, leaning heavily on new album Sunlight in the Shadows.

Rather than disrupting the flow, the new material elevated it. Tracks like Electric Flower and Love Is Cruel landed hard, already feeling like live staples, while classics Inhaler and Come Closer triggered mass singalongs. The Albert Hall became one unified voice — a sold-out love-in, sweaty and euphoric.

Kane was relentless. Strutting, spinning, dripping in charisma and sweat, he moved like a man completely at ease in his own myth. By the end, he was soaked through, having emptied the tank entirely.

Miles Kane is on fire right now. Confident, sharp, and operating at full throttle, he’s not just carrying the mod torch — he’s burning it brighter than ever. Manchester felt it. Every soaked coat, every shouted lyric, every raised fist proved it.

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