Live Review: Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts - Wolverhampton

Live Review: Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

23rd July 2026
Support: Tender Vendetta, Blanco Negra
Words & Photos: Tim Finch

Thursday nights are not usually reserved for unfiltered rock and roll, but those good people at KK’s Steel Mill had other ideas, with Georgia’s Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts bringing their brand of swaggering, high-energy rock to Wolverhampton, backed by support from Blanco Negra and Tender Vendetta. It’s an occasion for KK’s big room tonight, purely as the Lounge is otherwise occupied, but the huge stage gave each band the chance to really strut their stuff.

Blanco Negra had the task of getting the crowd moving early, and they wasted little time in doing exactly that. The Black Country three piece opened with the punchy ‘Wild and Crazy’, immediately establishing their upbeat hard rock credentials before rolling into ‘(You Set My) Heart on Fire’

The middle of the set kept the momentum high. Sunshine Girl’ brought a welcome melodic lift, while ‘Nothing’s Going To Stop Me Now’ delivered the kind of feel-good anthem that had heads nodding throughout the venue. Closing with the recently released ‘Hard Cold Lover’, Blanco Negra left a lasting impression adding a pink twist to their impressive sound.. While many in attendance had arrived for Tuk Smith, Blanco Negra ensured they earned plenty of new admirers.

With only six songs to make an impression, Tender Vendetta wasted no time getting down to business. Opening with ‘Kamikaze Love’, the Wolverhampton outfit immediately injected a shot of energy into KK’s Steel Mill, delivering a set packed with attitude. They may have been one of two support acts for Tuk Smith, but they approached the evening like it was their own headline show.

The momentum continued through ‘Daisy Chain’ and the brooding ‘Drown’, their performance tight throughout. A spirited cover of The Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’ proved to be a smart choice, taking the classic and giving it a heavier, dirtier punch that fitted naturally alongside their own material.

Closing with ‘I’ll Do Me’ and ‘Life’s A Bitch’, Tender Vendetta finished on a high, leaving the audience warmed up and fully engaged ahead of the night’s main event. Their stage presence continues to grow with every performance, and the chemistry between the band members is becoming increasingly apparent, a band destined for bigger things.

KK’s Steel Mill is built for rock’n’roll, and Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts arrived in Wolverhampton with to make the venue feel like home. Tuk wasted no time in delivering exactly that, stepping out with the confidence of a frontman who knows how to command a room and a band that clearly understands the power of a great live show.

From the opening moments they played with a raw, relentless energy. The set moved between swaggering rockers and more melodic moments without ever losing momentum, with Smith throwing himself into every song. There was banter between tracks, Tuk happy to return to Wolverhampton, even joking with one attendee “didn’t I dance with you last time? Didn’t you grab my ass?”

Tuk Smith has a clear affection for the classic ingredients of rock music, but the songs never felt like exercises in nostalgia. There was a sense of urgency running through the entire set, with the band sounding hungry and determined. The Restless Hearts brought the muscle, Smith brought the charisma, and together they created a set that was as much about connection as it was volume.