Live Review: Reytons – Utrecht and Paris
WARAW
We had the pleasure of joining Reytons for the final two dates of their tour, in Utrecht, Netherlands and Paris, France. The two shows couldn’t have been more different, yet both equally unforgettable. Utrecht was the bigger and wilder night, with a full on ‘No pyro, no party’ production. In contrast, the Paris gig was far more intimate, set in a quirky circus-themed venue that gave the night a unique, almost surreal vibe. The venue also made for a more personal connection between the band and the crowd.
Support on both nights came from rising star Freddie Halkon, who was playing his first ever European shows, he looked genuinely stunned by the incredible reception he received.
Utrecht
Photo by: Nikki Wilson
We spent a couple of days soaking up the weird and wonderful sights of Amsterdam before heading to the beautiful city of Utrecht the day before the gig. During those three days, we kept running into fellow Reytons fans in both cities, the first were Ali and Carl Sedgwick who we met in just our third pub in Amsterdam and we ended up spending the rest of the day with them. The excitement and anticipation for these final tour dates was impossible to miss. With the sun shining and temperatures climbing above 20°C, there was a real summer buzz in the air and everyone was in great spirits, ready to make the most of it.
Photo by: Nikki Wilson
Gig day finally rolled around and after some early afternoon drinks with the legends Nick and Claire Burns, we watched the canal-lined streets of Utrecht slowly starting to fill with fans repping Reytons football shirts and tees. Every time one was spotted, shouts of “We’re all Reytons, aren’t we?” rang out with a real sense of unity and excitement. Early in the day, we bumped into bassist Lee Holland, who was sat outside a Starbucks after being locked out of the tour bus. He told us that the Tivoli was a massive venue with a capacity of 2,000, perfect for one last blowout with the pyro because these weren’t allowed in Paris.
Photo by: Nikki Wilson
Being a Reytons fan is more than just following a band, it’s being part of a community or more accurately, a family. The pre-gig meet-ups organised through the Greytons Facebook page are the perfect place to grab a drink with like-minded people. Whether you’re arriving with a group or flying solo, you’re never on your own for long. It doesn’t take more than a pint and a few shared stories before strangers become mates. In Utrecht, the chosen meet-up spot was Little Dublin, a cosy pub that clearly wasn’t quite prepared for the 50+ Reytons fans about to descend. With just one bar staff member holding the fort at first, it wasn’t long before reinforcements were called in as the crowd grew and the drinks started flowing. Chants of “Here we, here we, here we fucking go!” soon erupted, echoing far beyond the quiet street where Little Dublin sits, turning a quiet corner of Utrecht into the unofficial start of the night’s madness.
As we made our way to the venue in the glorious sunshine, heads were turning left and right. Locals looked on, clearly wondering, “What’s going on here? Who are these people?” The obvious answer, of course, would’ve been “We’re all Reytons, aren’t we?”, though, given we were in the Netherlands, perhaps it should’ve been “We zijn allemaal Reytons, nietwaar?” Either way, the buzz was undeniable, and the energy made it clear something special was about to go down.
Photo by: Erik Endriks
Tivoli, the venue for the night was sat right on the canal and was surrounded by bars with outdoor seating, soaking up every bit of sunshine in what felt like the perfect little suntrap. From the outside, the venue looked more like a modern convention centre than a gig spot and inside, it was a maze of different rooms hosting all kinds of events. Heading up an escalator to reach our gig space was definitely a first but also added to the uniqueness of the night. The room where Reytons were playing had the feel of an old theatre, not too dissimilar to Manchester’s Apollo, but with a sleek, modern twist that created a striking contrast. It felt like the perfect setting for what was about to unfold.
First up was the brilliant Freddie Halkon, who’s had an incredible rise since being handpicked to open for Reytons at The Leadmill back in May last year. One thing that stood out straight away was how the Dutch crowd showed up early, no hanging back, just straight in and packed tight from the off. It must’ve been an unreal sight for Freddie to walk out to a full house already buzzing with energy. As chants of “Freddie, Freddie, Freddie…” echoed around the room, he looked genuinely overwhelmed, grinning from ear to ear and at one point, even wiping away a tear. A real moment and one he’ll no doubt remember forever.
Freddie kicked things off with ‘Girl in the Smoking Area‘ and for anyone who hadn’t heard of him before, it didn’t take long to see why he’s getting so much love. Tracks like ‘Pushbikes & Late Nights‘ and ‘Come Around Again‘ had every eye in the room locked on him and by the time he reached his powerful ballad ‘Room 26‘, you could feel the whole place hanging on every word. ‘Fret Don’t Fret‘ sparked a full-on mosh pit, before he closed his set with ‘Four of a Kind‘, leaving the room buzzing.
You could tell he was completely blown away by the response visibly emotional and so, so grateful. It was a huge moment for Freddie and one that’ll no doubt stay with him forever as part of his European debut.
Walking around Utrecht, one thing that stood out was the lack of older people and young children, it’s a city that feels youthful and full of energy, likely thanks to its big student population. With that in mind, I had a feeling this was going to be a lively crowd and that hunch was confirmed the moment the audience started going wild just for Ross setting up the gear. The Dutch crowd weren’t just ready, they were buzzing for this.
Photo by: Kimberley Emmet
As the lights dropped, it was time for Reytons’ entrance and what better way to kick things off than with their iconic opener ‘Red Smoke‘. The band charged onto the stage, instantly matching the crowd’s energy and pushing it even higher, the room erupted into a surge of movement, with bodies bouncing and a wave of chaos rippling through the crowd. Reytons have three tracks ‘Red Smoke‘, ‘Adrenaline‘ and ‘Let Me Breathe‘ that each have the power to open a set on their own but instead of picking just one, they went all in and played all three back-to-back, creating an explosive and seriously sweaty start to the night.
Reytons are known for breaking up their sets with a bit of chat between tracks, something that’s always appreciated. With the sheer energy packed into their songs, going full throttle without a breather would be exhausting for everyone. I’ve spoken to Jonny in the past, and he’s admitted it’s as much for their benefit as it is for ours and after that opening trio of bangers, there’s no doubt that a pause was needed, just long enough to catch your breath before diving back in.
During one of these breaks, the band raised their hands in the air, holding them in a blocky, almost Lego man-like shape. Suddenly, a loud sound rolled through the crowd, what at first sounded like a wave of boos. We looked around, slightly confused. Why were they booing? What was going on? It didn’t take long to figure out that the band were shaping a giant ‘U’ with their hands and the crowd was actually shouting “Uuuuuuuu!” in support of Utrecht. A brilliant bit of local connection and a moment that had everyone laughing once they clocked what was really happening.
Photo by: Robert Hoogenboom
Just over halfway through the set, the band pulled a girl named Kady from the crowd to join them on stage. She took Joe’s guitar and from where we were standing, it looked like she was telling them she didn’t know what to do but she did, she knew how to play ‘Low Life‘. The only catch? The band had already played it a few songs earlier. Still, they went for it again and Kadi absolutely nailed it, getting the crowd bouncing all over again.
It was hilarious watching Joe looking a bit lost without his guitar, while Lee seemed slightly thrown off too, he usually follows Joe’s lead. And of course, never one to shy away from the spotlight, Ian Cheslett chimed in with a shout of “I can play drums!” Thankfully, he stayed put.
Photo by: Marc Whiffen
Cheslett might not have made it behind the drum kit, but he’s got his own vital role in the band’s live experience, he’s the undisputed master of the mosh pit. Despite being 60, he’s the one orchestrating those chaotic circles with the energy of someone half his age and with crowd favourites like ‘Knees Up‘ and ‘Slice of Lime‘ still to come, he was well and truly in his element. For someone who’s seen the band hundreds of times, it’s wild how he still throws himself into every moment like it’s his very first gig. A proper legend of the family.
Photo by: Kimberley Emmet
For the encore, we stepped out of the pit and moved to the back to soak it all in, to really take a moment and reflect on the occasion. ‘Kids Off The Estate‘ kicked things off, with fans up on shoulders and the pyro now in full force. The band had said this was their big blowout and they weren’t kidding, they must’ve left the stage travelling lighter because it felt like they unleashed everything they had. At one point, the sheer amount of confetti made it look like the crowd were inside a Christmas snow globe.
They wrapped it all up with two absolute bangers, ‘Uninvited‘ and ‘Broke Boys Cartel‘ giving everyone one last chance to bounce, shout, and lose themselves in the moment. As the lights came up, the room was soaked in sweat, but the smiles on every face told the story: we’d just witnessed something special, a night to remember forever.
Photo by: Nikki Wilson
After the show, we hung back for a bit, chatting, laughing and soaking up the last bits of the night with friends. Unfortunately we werent lucky enough to see ‘Big Kev’ do a backflip but we were lucky enough to bump into Freddie, who was still absolutely buzzing from his earlier set, full of energy and clearly still riding the high. While some fans made their way back to Little Dublin to keep the party going, we had an early start ahead, Paris was calling and with the bar set so high in Utrecht, we couldn’t help but wonder, could it possibly top this? We were about to find out.
Photo by: Kevin Allan
Paris
Photo by: Nikki Wilson
After making our way to Rotterdam and catching a smooth Eurostar into Paris, it was pretty much straight to the hotel to check in and then straight back out again to see what Paris had to offer. It felt like a shame we wouldn’t get to explore much, but with the venue an hour away, we decided to walk and I’m so glad we did.
Our route took us along the Bassin de la Villette canal, where locals were out enjoying the sun, drinking, and playing boules. It felt like we’d accidentally wandered into a little pocket of authentic French culture, which made the journey to our meeting spot The 211 even more special. When we arrived it wasn’t too long after that John Smith and Mandy Hardeman joined us, with them two the laughing is infectious.
Photo by: Richard ‘Tricky’ Gibbons
The 211 was right in the same area as the venue, Parc de la Villette and looked like the perfect pre-gig spot with its big beer garden and the sun holding steady at around 25°. Unfortunately, what looked perfect soon turned out to be a bit of an inconvenience, the queue for the bar was very slow. With more people arriving by the minute, wait times stretched out to about 45 minutes. Some clever ones ducked off to the shop and came back with ‘contraband’ cans, sipping away while the rest of us queued.
Still, we ended up with a solid turnout and eventually took over the beer garden, a sea of Reytons fans, some have which had also travelled from Utrecht, good vibes and that buzzing anticipation building once again.
Photo by: Richard ‘Tricky’ Gibbons
The walk to the venue had serious Reservoir Dogs energy, a group of us strutting through the Paris park, voices echoing with chants of “Here we fucking go!”, “Reytons! Reytons! Reytons!” and a rowdy version of ‘Kids Off The Estate‘. It was loud, proud, and unmistakably Reytons, turning heads and building hype with every step closer to the venue.
Stepping into the venue was a real wow moment, I mean, how often do you get to see a band inside an actual circus tent? It instantly felt special. The layout was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. There was a step down into the main floor, pit, dancefloor… or maybe we should call it the ring? And up on the upper level were booths with tables, giving it a surreal mix of gig-meets-big-top.
One touch I absolutely loved was the bell system, a literal bell rang out to let everyone know it was last orders at the bar before the first act. Then, just before Freddie Halkon was due on, another bell sounded, a clever way to make sure no one missed the start while still soaking in the surroundings. It was little details like that which made the whole night feel just that bit more magical.
Photo by: Julie Taylor
For the second night in a row, Freddie looked genuinely blown away by another packed crowd in a different country and once again, he was grinning from ear to ear. You could see him taking in the venue too, clearly just as impressed by the surroundings as the rest of us.
But this show felt different, more personal. There was a noticeable shift in energy. You could see him making eye contact with familiar faces from back home and every time he locked eyes, his reaction gave it away, pure joy. It wasn’t just about the madness in the pit this time, it felt like he was connecting on a deeper level, soaking it all in and sharing something special with the crowd.
It didn’t take long for the locals to realise that Freddie was the real deal. ‘Pushbikes & Late Nights‘ felt like the turning point, the moment the French crowd started leaning in, wanting to be part of what they were witnessing. Then ‘My Reflection‘ demanded their full attention, holding the room in complete silence one minute and singing along the next.
By the time he closed with ‘Four of a Kind‘, it genuinely felt like Freddie had united the whole venue. The Brits, the French and Freddie himself, in that moment, we were all one, completely caught up in something bigger than just a support slot.
Photo by: Richard ‘Tricky’ Gibbons
Next up was the big one, Reytons‘ final show of their UK and European tour and what a setting for a finale. The bell rang, the tension rose, and the band stormed the stage to ‘Red Smoke‘.
It did feel a little strange without the pyro this time but that didn’t stop the British fans, they dived straight in, giving it everything. The French crowd, on the other hand, looked a bit unsure at first, not quite knowing what they’d stepped into but then, like a hero on cue, Cheslett charged in and opened up the pit early doors. Jonny gave him a knowing nod, a little “cheers, mate” and just like that, everything clicked. The crowd became one, the pit was bouncing and the energy shot through the roof.
It might sound like a strange thing to miss, but the absence of the CO₂ whooshes was noticeable, more than I ever expected. You don’t realise how much those blasts become part of the live Reytons experience until they’re gone, especially on tracks like ‘Red Smoke‘ and ‘Low Life‘. They add this extra hit of drama, a physical jolt that syncs perfectly with the chaos of the crowd. Without them, it didn’t take anything away from the energy, but you could definitely feel their absence when you have become so used to them.
That said, without all the smoke and spectacle, this gig had a completely different feel, something more personal, more up-close. It was one of those whites of their eyes kind of shows where you could see every expression clearly and they could pick out familiar faces in the crowd just as easily.
That closeness led to more interaction too, genuine thanks to those who’d been following the tour, a bit of back-and-forth with McReyton Maggie Mellon, and most importantly, a heartfelt moment when Deb and Kev were given their golden tickets right before ‘Cash In Hand & Fake IDs‘. It was one of those touches that reminded you why being part of this fanbase feels like being part of a family.
Debbie Cutts and Kev Stewart had done it all, every single one of the 12 European dates, the full UK leg, Japan, and the entire run of the previous UK and European tour too. Their dedication is something else and it didn’t go unnoticed. Jonny took a moment before ‘Cash In Hand & Fake IDs‘ to honour them properly, handing over golden tickets, a lifetime pass to all future Reytons gigs, meaning they’ll never have to pay for a ticket again.
Only one other person has ever received one of those, Mr. Reyton himself, Ian Cheslett, so for Deb and Kev to be recognised in that way was something truly special. Emotional, genuine, and absolutely deserved. For those of us who’ve become friends with the lovely couple along the way, it was a beautiful moment to witness.
The venue was absolutely roasting, the kind of heat where everyone’s dripping, and there’s no escaping it. At one point, Jonny clocked that if he was feeling it under the lights, we must’ve been melting in the pit. So, mid-set, he launched his water over the crowd and the reaction said it all.
It wasn’t long before he followed it up with a few more bottles, each one greeted with a chorus of grateful gasps. It was like something out of a horror film where the devil gets hit with holy water, except instead of screams, it was more like a collective ahhhhhhh. Honestly, in that moment, it felt like the most appreciated thing in the world.
As the set neared its end, ‘Billy Big Bollocks‘ sent the energy through the roof. The pits were getting bigger, more bodies flying in and the locals, well, they were definitely keen. A few of them jumped the gun and started surging a little prematurely, but honestly, it just added to the chaos.
There was no tension, just everyone fully in the moment, united in the madness. Brits and French all bouncing together, arms flailing, smiles everywhere. It was pure, sweaty joy.
Photo by: Laetitia Mavrel
The encore kicked off with ‘Kids Off The Estate‘ and just as we were all settling into the moment, remember how the band weren’t allowed any pyro at this venue? Well, someone in the crowd (let’s call him M.R. The Smoke Bomber) let off a red smoke bomb. For a second, everything paused, a few faces dropped… Then lit up again with cheeky grins like, Ohhh no you didn’t!
The band looked genuinely caught off guard at first, unsure what to do as security quickly removed the pyro, but the smoke lingered in the air and so did the buzz. It transformed the atmosphere instantly, the lights hit the haze just right and suddenly, everything felt more like the Reytons shows we all know and love.
In the UK, smoke bombs while technically not allowed are almost expected gigs but this was the first one to go off on the European leg and for it to happen right at the end of the final show, in a venue that banned all pyro, It felt poetic.
They closed out with ‘Uninvited‘ and ‘Broke Boys Cartel‘ and with that red haze still floating above the crowd, it was a fitting, fiery send-off of the night.
Throughout the set, the band had mentioned they’d be coming down for a drink with us after the show so naturally, loads of us stuck around. The post-gig buzz was still strong as people mingled, chatted, and made new mates while waiting.
About half an hour passed before the venue’s security ushered us all out. It felt like that might be it… until someone shouted “Tour bus!” and suddenly around 50 of us were legging it around to the only spot the bus could leave from.
The mood was class, everyone chanting, laughing and waiting by the automatic gates. Every time they opened, we cheered like mad and when they shut again, a wave of booing followed. The security staff looked baffled, but we were loving it.
Photo by: Nikki Wilson
Then, after about 15 minutes, the band finally appeared, grins on their faces, bouncing over to join us. They were buzzing and in great spirits, they had a proper laugh with us, took loads of photos (including a cracking group one) and made time for chats with fans who had followed them across countries.
Photo by: The Reytons
It was the perfect ending to a perfect gig, no barriers, no egos, just a band and their people, celebrating the end of one unforgettable tour.
The night didn’t quite end at the venue, as a few of us made our way back through the park toward our hotels, we passed the same locals who’d been out drinking and playing boules earlier in the day, still there, still laughing and chatting well past midnight. The atmosphere was laid-back and buzzing in equal measure.
One thing that really stood out and massive respect to the locals for this, around every bin were neat piles of empty bottles, and the grassy areas were practically spotless. It’s hard to imagine the same back home but it really showed the vibe here was one of community and care.
Photo by: Marc Whiffen
Midway through the park, we clocked something wild, the biggest slide we’d ever seen! Like, proper huge, the kind you’d usually pay to go down at some adventure park. It had an obstacle-course-style climb that was almost vertical in places. It didn’t take much persuasion before we were legging it over.
Kev was the first one up and straight down, flying at speed and getting thrown side to side, when he hit the bottom, he jumped up shouting, “That’s the best fucking slide I’ve ever been on!” John Smith followed, proudly declaring, “I can slide like a motherfucker!” We were all doubled over in laughter, giggling like kids under the Paris night sky.
In hindsight, it felt pretty symbolic for Kev after riding the high of every gig on this tour, from start to finish, this massive slide and the soft landing almost mirrored the emotional come down that was on the horizon when him and Deb returned home.
Photo by: Nikki Wilson
The following day we managed to squeeze in a full day of sightseeing, plenty of walking and evening drinks with Tricky and Ben Taylor. Paris genuinely stole our hearts. After Amsterdam and Utrecht, we weren’t quite sure what to expect, but the city swept us away and Utrecht, what a gem, both are places we might never have experienced if it wasn’t for this incredible band and the community of die-hard fans that turn these gigs into full-blown adventures.
There’s truly no band we’d rather follow around the world. Smaller venues, massive hearts and memories that will live with us forever. If you’re ever thinking about doing a few gigs abroad… Don’t just think, do it. You’ll never regret it.
