The Boxer Rebellion

On 19 March 2026 The Boxer Rebellion plays SPOT/De Oosterpoort in Groningen. The London-based alternative rock band, built around Nathan Nicholson’s American voice and keyboards, has slowly let melody and tension converge since the early 2000s. Layered guitars, Piers Hewitt’s tight drums and Adam Harrison’s bass pull the songs from intimate to open and spacious, with the occasional atmospheric layer sharpening the contours. Live, it’s all about build: choruses that don’t land until a few minutes in, rhythmic accents that propel everything forward, and a vocal line with a melancholic edge that remains firmly in place.

From Exits and Union to The Cold Still and Promises you can hear the evolution: more pared-back songwriting, more light and air, but the same undercurrent of wistfulness. Ocean by Ocean and Ghost Alive carry that further, placing greater emphasis on dynamics and texture. Expect a set that juxtaposes older and newer material, with slowly burning crescendos, compact hooks and enough room for arcs of tension that open up even more in a live setting.