Kaizers Orchestra

On 3 October 2026 at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, Kaizers Orchestra return to the stage with their offbeat mix of electric rock, Balkan-tinged rhythms and a hint of dark cabaret. Formed around singer and guitarist Janove Ottesen at the end of the 1990s in Bryne, the Norwegian six-piece writes in Norwegian and leans on strong narratives populated by families on the fringes, soldiers and other outsiders.

Their debut Ompa til du dør (2001) set the tone, followed by Evig pint (2003) and Maestro (2005) with more orchestrated arrangements. With Maskineri (2008) and the re-recorded collection Våre demoner (2009), the band shifted toward a more direct rock pulse while keeping repetitive motifs and chant-friendly hooks. The Violeta Violeta trilogy (2011–2012) pushed them into rock-opera territory with a conceptual storyline.

After a farewell tour in 2013, the group paused before reforming in the early 2020s. Expect driving grooves, storytelling that cuts through the language barrier and the kind of communal choruses that have made their live shows a cult rendezvous.