ANGUS & JULIA STONE AT KOKO: A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT OF HARMONY AND STORYTELLING

LIVE REVIEW | ANGUS & JULIA STONE | KOKO, CAMDEN | 1st July 2026 by Kevin O’Sullivan

Whenever someone asks how I’m doing, my stock answer is always the same: “Living the dream.” Whether that’s actually true on any particular day is another matter entirely. Watching Angus & Julia Stone at KOKO, however, you couldn’t help thinking they genuinely are.

Not because they’ve built an international career or sold millions of records, but because they still look exactly as they must have done when they first started making music together – a brother and sister completely at ease in each other’s company, sharing stories, swapping smiles and creating music that feels as natural as conversation. Some artists perform together. Angus and Julia Stone simply exist together on stage.

Before the main event, Tennessee singer-songwriter Cassandra Coleman proved to be the perfect support. Fresh from earning wider recognition through a song featured on a Netflix soundtrack and with a Hyde Park appearance alongside Mumford & Sons just days away, she arrived with obvious nerves.

“I was so nervous about playing in front of y’all,” she admitted in her unmistakable Southern drawl, before joking that England’s football victory had put everyone in a relaxed mood.

Coleman also revealed she’d previously visited KOKO as a fan and had promised herself she’d play the venue one day. Judging by the reception she received, that dream became reality in style. Her beautifully understated voice immediately drew the audience in, while ‘Maggie’ became an early highlight, complete with an enthusiastic “Maggie, Maggie, Maggie…” singalong that had the crowd smiling throughout. It was a confident performance from an artist who feels destined for much bigger stages.

Then it was time for Angus & Julia Stone.

Opening with ‘Losing You’ before moving effortlessly into ‘Nothing Else’ and ‘Yellow Brick Road’, the pair immediately transformed KOKO into something resembling an intimate living room rather than one of London’s most iconic venues. Their harmonies remain extraordinary, never forced, never showy, simply two voices that have spent a lifetime learning exactly where the other is heading.

Introducing ‘Yellow Brick Road’, Julia shared that she has the song’s title tattooed on her foot. Written by Angus some years ago, she described it as one of her favourite songs he’d ever written. It was a lovely insight into a relationship built not only on family but on genuine admiration for each other’s songwriting.

Those little stories became one of the evening’s greatest strengths.

Julia recalled how she and Angus had stood in the audience at KOKO years ago, around the time they were writing their first album, dreaming about where music might take them. To now be standing on the same stage felt wonderfully full circle. It was the perfect introduction to ‘Monroe’, released just five days ago, proving that despite a catalogue spanning two decades, creativity continues to flow effortlessly.

Perhaps the evening’s biggest ovation came courtesy of ‘Just a Boy’.

Julia explained that throughout their career there have been songs each sibling has desperately wanted the other to perform. This particular track had been one she’d been pestering Angus to sing for the best part of twenty years.

Thankfully, he finally relented.

The response from the audience suggested it had been well worth the wait. Tender, vulnerable and beautifully delivered, it became one of the evening’s highlights, earning one of the warmest receptions of the night.

Growing up in a musical family has clearly shaped everything they have become. Julia spoke fondly of their father, a wedding singer who spent weekends performing classic songs. As children, she laughed, they genuinely believed those songs were his own. ‘Imagine’ was a particular favourite, and for years they thought their dad had written it himself.

“He was our hero,” she smiled.

That charming story led seamlessly into a heartfelt cover of ‘Stay With Me’, one of the siblings’ own favourite songs and another reminder that great music doesn’t need embellishment when delivered with sincerity.

As the evening unfolded through ‘From the Stalls’, ‘Karaoke Bar’ and ‘For You’, it became increasingly obvious just how devoted their audience is. One Australian family standing proudly on the front barrier had interrupted a holiday to Italy purely to spend the evening at KOKO before continuing their travels. Few artists inspire that level of loyalty, but Angus & Julia Stone have always cultivated a fanbase that feels less like an audience and more like an extended family.

One of the night’s standout performances came during ‘For You’. Introduced with a humorous story about an ex and the memorable lyric, “If you love me, you’ll never have to go to work,” the song gradually built into a breathtaking guitar crescendo that provided one of the evening’s most powerful musical moments.

Then came the song everyone had been waiting for.

Introducing ‘Big Jet Plane’, the siblings reflected on the wonderful people they’d met throughout their journey together. Within moments, KOKO had become one huge choir, with virtually every voice joining in.

Halfway through the song, however, the performance came to an unexpected halt as a member of the audience fainted in the sweltering heat. Thankfully, after a brief pause to make sure they were okay, the band restarted the song from the beginning.

Or… perhaps it was a clever ploy from a devoted fan to hear ‘Big Jet Plane’ twice! Somehow, I suspect the former, but nobody in KOKO was complaining about getting to experience one of the duo’s finest songs all over again.

It proved to be one of the defining moments of the evening, with the crowd singing every word as if it were the first time they’d heard it.

An encore of ‘Santa Monica Dream’ provided the perfect conclusion to a concert that never relied on spectacle. There were no elaborate visuals, no theatrical production and no unnecessary distractions. Everything rested on songwriting, musicianship and two voices that continue to complement each other with remarkable precision.

More than anything, though, it was impossible to ignore the bond between them. The affectionate glances, the shared jokes, the stories that only siblings could tell and the obvious pride they take in each other’s work created something far more meaningful than a succession of beautifully performed songs.

Many musicians spend their careers chasing success.

Angus & Julia Stone look as though they’ve found something even more valuable.

They genuinely look like they’re living the dream.

And for one unforgettable evening inside KOKO, they invited a sold-out London audience to share it with them.

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Kevin O'Sullivan

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