Bôa return from hiatus with long-awaited London show

After an almost twenty-year hiatus, hit alt-rock group Bôa were on fire at their London show last month.

Last month, long celebrated UK alt-rock band Bôa took to the stage at London’s Islington Assembly Hall for one of their first shows in eighteen years.

Aside from a performance at Colours Hoxton in March, July’s London show was the first live appearance made by the group since announcing a hiatus in the mid-2000s. With an imaginably packed, eager crowd and an electric, effervescent set, Bôa made it clear that they are coming back stronger than ever.

For alt-rock legends Bôa, the emergence of hit song Duvet on social media platform TikTok brought swathes of fans from a new generation to the group’s music. From then on, the trio’s passion was reignited and they returned with new single Walk With Me in March this year. A number of single releases soon followed, building up to the group’s highly anticipated album, Whiplash, which is set to drop in October.

Opening with rock-imbued song Deeply, the July show was a glorious collision of the band’s old and new sounds. The energetic opening brought an instant buzz to the London venue, as the group was met with a divinely raucous, long-awaited welcoming.

The energy continued through their second tune, Angry, which was dotted with power-packed sounds and guitar solos showcased the band’s characteristic angst.

A more mellow air settled over the set with third song For Jasmine, which enjoyed impressive violin sounds and swelled into a hefty, evocative chorus. New song Whiplash, which will be the title track of their upcoming October album, followed.

Moodier tracks continued to feature throughout the set, embedded with loud rock explosions and impassioned vocalisations on top of moments of instrumental tension.

Yet to be released, new song Strange Few was carried by infectious riffs and a mighty guitar solo, before the group exhibited a more experimental sound with Welcome, which seemed an enticing fusion of genres.

The rest of the set oscillated between gentler, more pared back songs including the reflective, acoustic Drinking and the more upbeat Get There, before anticipated hit song Duvet.

Cherished by the crowd, the TikTok hit was a particular highlight of the night, with a nostalgic feel and laid back sound.

The catchy tune was followed by monumental song Elephant, which had a healing feel and ended with a blissful sonic explosion after a repeated mantra of “I am not afraid”.

Following the main part of the set, the group returned to the stage with three more songs, including newly released track Walk With Me and a reprise of Duvet, which was warmly welcomed by the eager crowd.

With an impending album release and additional live performances scheduled for October, Bôa’s exciting return is not to be missed this year.

Photography by Emma Last.