It is the final day of the open-air festival season and the final date of the All Points East series that has offered its stage to the biggest names spanning genres, from Deftones to Tyler, the Creator, to Lorde. The Summertime staple that takes over London’s Victoria Park has something for everyone. But you know what they say about saving the best till last, as Twenty One Pilots brought the festival to a spectacular close.
Twenty One Pilots
All Points East – 30 August 2026
Words: Matt Pratt
Twenty One Pilots are a band that could have easily failed to make it out of their hometown, let alone achieve global fame. Truly genreless in their approach, the band lives in the spaces between rock, dance, hip-hop and honestly any other genre you can come up with.
With a sound so unfamiliar you can imagine a world where the duo struggled to find their place. But they have instead become the great unifier between factions, with a logo that can be found as prominently on the battle jackets of Metalheads as it is on the phone case of indie kids.
A huge contributor to the fanbase explosion that has seen tonight’s two-piece soar to the top of so many bills is the story they have woven between the songs. The story they have been mapping out for over a decade seemingly culminated in 2025’s album Breech, but rather than settling on the conclusion, it had only exacerbated the next thought: what’s next?
The cult-like fandom has flocked to this particular date, faithful that this evening’s performance, scheduled for an extra 50 minutes beyond the usual tour setlist, will offer the next step in the legend of Clancy and Torchbearer.
half.alive
Twenty One Pilots’ influence will be a recurring theme throughout the proceedings today, but one of the most visible reflections has to be found with half.alive. Mirroring the headliners, the band also consists of only two official members, although that is a recent development following the departure of drummer Brett Kramer, with a sound that doesn’t seem too distant from the imaginations of Tyler and Josh.
Lashings of synth paired with delicate and lively drumbeats don’t obviously sit in any one genre’s walls, but it easily captivates the lunchtime crowd, still buzzing with anticipation. The multi-faceted performers don’t simply rock up and reel through their discography, arriving on stage dressed as though they were keen to beat the weekday morning commute; the only business at play is showmanship.
The brief but lively set was jam-packed with choreographed dance routines paired with their alt-pop sound, which exists somewhere in a space between Twenty One Pilots’ lighter work and bands like Everything Everything.
Red Leather
When you talk about cult followings these days, the first band that comes to mind may not be Twenty One Pilots. It wasn’t too long ago that the festival circuit had only one name on their lips, Sleep Token. There are plenty of parallels between last year’s Download Festival headliners and the Ohio pair, but it’s where they differ that we find the most interesting phenomenon.
There has been a sharp increase in artists seeking anonymity in their success, no easy task in today’s online obsession age. Whether it’s for personal peace, to add a layer to the lore or for artistic expression, you can’t help but feel a level of intrigue for an artist who lets their music alone speak for them and Red Leather is no exception.
Commanding a respectable crowd beneath the unique X-shaped lighting rig of its namesake stage, the vibrant exhibition of Red Leather’s alt-rock-cum-Americana style is quick to draw plenty of participation and sing-alongs.
Despite the lack of face to connect with, the musician’s personality shines through, telling stories of the demons that he has conquered to be with us today and his joy at what he has achieved by making it to this prized platform.
Headsend
Another band on a cacophonous warpath to fame are the gnarly and noisy Headsend. Stinging spikes of guitar and distorted vocals lead the way for this angstful four-piece who feel like they could have been ripped right out of the ’90s. It could be argued that Headsend would have been a more fitting inclusion amongst the grittier collective we saw the previous weekend, which Outbreak expertly curated.
In spite of their departure from the bright alternative sound presented elsewhere on site, the young band amass a respectable crowd who bob in unison to the melancholic growl. Though the sound is hitting the spot nicely, as a live performance it does at times feel inconsistent in energy.
There are breakdowns where we see the band spring into action and show a bit of that punk-rock passion but the flame is quelled as they swiftly return to their rigid positions on the stage. There is every reason to believe Headsend can cause a racket in the alternative space, but especially so if they can tap into the passion that genre is built upon.
PVRIS
It’s not overselling it to suggest PVRIS are legends of this scene. Last year’s 2000trees headliners were trailblazers in a wave of female-powered alternative bands in the early 2010s, which added whole new angles to the genre which so many bands who followed have been able to benefit from.
The only surprising thing about PVRIS’s presence on this festival’s lineup is how low on the bill they are. Perfection is not a requirement with live music. A crack in the voice or a misplaced pluck of a guitar string can pleasantly add a bit of personality and authenticity to a show.
With that said, I dare anyone to find fault in PVRIS’ delivery today. Each note and beat placed perfectly, the band show their experience and comfort with effortless command, captivating attention with huge hits like Snakes of Arcane fame. PVRIS need prove nothing, but demonstrate their value on the biggest stages and stake a huge claim for a more prominent role in next year’s festival season.
Artio
Stark contrast to the legends we have just left on the main stage, Artio are still writing their tale. Named in Kerrang’s The Sound Of 2025, the four-piece have become a familiar name across the circuit and today find themselves at their perfect home. After all, there’s no better place to garner support than with fans of the very band that inspired you in the first place.
Maximising the short time they had with us, Artio do not only grace us with their most lively of hits, but even manage to jam in a surprise collab with pop-punk royalty As It Is, and even a cover from the discography of the day’s headliners.
There’s plenty of anticipatory enthusiasm beaming around the park, and there is no better harness for that energy than a rip-roaring warm-up performance, and Artio has absolutely nailed it!
Ren
In a lineup that is heavily weighted toward the alternative rock space, Ren is one of a few artists that dare to offer a different genre. The singer-songwriter and rapper has had a sharp climb into the spotlight over the past few years thanks to his raw and unflinching storytelling.
While many live performances may seem like a compilation of a band’s most popular hits, Ren takes it to the next level with a full-length theatrical performance around his urban playground stage set, inclusive of bespoke cartoon interludes courtesy of the phenomenally talented director and animator, Nikita Kibirev.
Ren’s strongest talent is in his ability to convey emotions. You feel helpless but to empathise with his vivid recounts of his personal struggles and the structures that have failed to support him.
The impact of the set is captured no better than with the vocalist’s delivery of Bittersweet Symphony into the glowing sunset as the hordes of Clikkies belt back the reimagining of the cult hit.
Leaving us with a surprise appearance from CHINCHILLA for their song Chalk Outlines, Ren has doubtlessly opened the door to many rock fans previously unfamiliar with his work, just in time for a new album.
Twenty One Pilots
Leaping onto stage in a fashion the cult of fans have come to expect, the mammoth East stage offers no concerns of the nerves you would expect from a two-piece trying to fill such a space. The duo has no trouble making the 50,000-strong crowd feel like a cosy basement show, spending plenty of time up close and personal with the fandom that has made this all possible.
Having already announced that this show would be significantly longer than previous European headline shows, the chatter was loud for what we would be getting tonight, especially with the heavily debated theories of a secret third part album to the finale for the seemingly already concluded story of Clancy and Torchbearer.
Unfortunately, there is little in the way of concrete confirmations for any theories tonight. However, I am sure every moment will be dissected and analysed by the many detectives of the Skeleton Clique around the globe.
What we are offered tonight is a bumper setlist that includes a first-time live play of Robot Voices with guitar support from Emi Grace, and rare performances of songs such as Downstairs, Pet Cheetah and Message Man.
Twenty One Pilots’ greatest strength lies in their ability to toy with your emotions through the medium of contrast. Despite living in a rock space, the band rarely go full leather on noise and tempo, but instead lures you into a sense of calm or playfulness before hitting you with the brick wall of one of Tyler’s screams as you suddenly comprehend the full gravity of the song’s surprisingly devastating lyrics.
The force of this freight train of feelings is undeniable on the battlefield. Whether it is tears, jubilation or both, the only emotion missing from the crowd is indifference.
Though it is no surprise to find the two troublemakers venturing off stage, what is unpredictable is exactly where they are going to show up. Whether at the top of 40 foot of scaffolding, atop a burning car in the middle of the crowd, huddled with a gaggle of Neds in the VIP area or being held up by the lucky few in the very front row, you can be sure to get up close and personal wherever you find your spot at the show.
It was amongst the crowd that they bring the performance to a close, as they usually do, with a rendition of Trees as both drum from the crowd to a procession of smoke and pyro, refusing to go quietly.
It is hard to say what will be next for Twenty One Pilots. The pair would be well within their rights to take a bit of a break after the last of their massive shows across North and South America, having put their heart and soul into the story so far.
With that said, it is hard to take your eyes off the enormous Ohio show this Autumn. If ever there was a place and time to drop hints of what’s next, it would be there.
So grab your popcorn, Clikkies. There is still plenty of detective work to be done.
