Live Review: Waterparks - O2 Academy, Leeds
23rd March 2026
Support: Greywind
Words & Photos: Martin Hingley
Returning to the UK for the first time in a few years, Waterparks roll into Leeds with their Prowler 2026 tour hosted at the o2 Academy.
Tonight’s support comes from Greywind, hailing from Killarney, Ireland. With the stage doused in reds and purples, Greywind arrive with a point to prove, that they can put on one hell of a rock show. From the moment Steph O’Sullivan steps on stage, looking very much like Debbie Harry in her prime, she leads the band with energy and vocal power.
Backed by her brother Paul and the rest of the band, Greywind control the set well. From the high energy of Here’s Your Deathwish to slowing things down and connecting with the audience during the beautiful Swing and Sway, they show all the signs of a band that understands its fanbase. As they move towards the end of their set, the band don nurses’ hats before closing with Antidote, finishing their performance with Waterfall from their latest release Severed Heart City, which arrived in January.
It’s safe to say Greywind are one to keep an eye on over the next few years, and fans won’t have to wait long to catch them again, with support slots lined up for Tonight Alive’s UK dates later this summer.
“It’s been the longest time that Waterparks have been away from UK venues,” Awsten Knight declares during tonight’s performance, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way from the crowd. As the stage goes dark and the backdrop lights up with a city skyline, the words Welcome To The Waterparks Show appear, prompting a huge roar. Opening with the super catchy sing-along Blonde, it doesn’t take long for the venue to start bouncing, with the audience often as loud, if not louder, than Knight himself.
A few songs in, the band briefly leave the stage and a video introduces the first emotion of the night: happiness. Returning to play the anthemic Stupid For You, they then offer the crowd a choice between Peaches (Lobotomy) and Telephone, with Peaches getting the nod. Visually, Waterparks deliver an impressive production, with lyric videos, vibrant colours and lighting effects giving each song its own feel. There’s also a fun moment during Dream Boy when Knight, having slipped from the riser earlier in the track, jokingly denies it ever happened, showing the band’s playful interaction with fans.
Moving into the “sadness” portion of the set, the mood shifts, though the energy remains. Another fan vote leads into an acoustic segment, with Geoff Wigington and Otto Wood stepping off stage while Knight takes centre stage. He explains how much they enjoyed performing more intimate shows recently and wanted to bring that feeling into this tour. The stripped-back section features fan favourites and rarities including Lowkey As Hell, Fuzzy and 21 Questions, before the full band returns.
As the show moves through themes of anticipation and anger, Waterparks continue to impress with their versatility and seamless transitions. Fans also get a sneak peek of new material with Prowler, whose heavier riff sparks the first real mosh pits of the night. Knight then reveals they won’t be away for long, confirming a new album later this year alongside another UK tour.
Closing the night with Turbulent and LIKE IT, Waterparks send fans home on a high after a performance packed with energy, humour and crowd interaction.
With a show that’s visually striking, catchy and carefully crafted with fans in mind, Waterparks continue to cement themselves as one of the defining bands of the new generation of pop-punk and if you haven’t seen them yet, you probably should.
Photo credits: Martin Hingley
