Live Review: Voyager – Islington Assembly Hall, London
31st July 2026
Words & Photos: Tom Atkin
Tonight sees a great return to London, Australian Prog rockers Voyager are giving us an “evening with” experience. This after what has been a not so great few years for the band, it is incredibly heart warming to see them back on the stage again in front of a room full of people that have definitely missed them.
Before the band take the stage, we get a ten minute countdown on the screen whilst years of photographs are displayed, a nice personal touch to connect the band with the audience. When the countdown hits 0, Jerry Ewing (Editor of Prog Magazine) takes to the stage to share his proudness of the band recounting how happy he was to see them representing at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Jerry leaves the stage and slowly, one by one, Voyager come out, before launching into ‘Prince of Fire’, a song that feels like it encapsulates Voyager in a perfect way. As soon as the song fully kicks in, the energy level picks up to match the volume, an energy that carries on through out ‘Colours’ and ‘You the Shallow’. Danny Estrin spends equal time smiling at the crowd as he does singing. Everything about the performance shows just how much they are enjoying being back on stage again. They are just out here having a blast, that doesn’t mean they aren’t taking it seriously either. Their performance sounds incredibly tight.
For a band that have not been able to tour much in recent years, their performance sounds like they have never been away. ‘Dreamer’ is a crowd favourite, with the chorus being sung back at them throughout. This is before Voyager’s sense of humour rears its head. ‘Hyperventilating’ brings a karaoke style finish to the song, however the lyrics that the crowd sings are “This song is captivating” and “I can’t stop masterbating”. Not going to lie, that was a bit of an odd moment, however this is Voyager and they are having fun and the crowd are more than happy to join in.
The set then moves through ‘The Lamenting’, ‘Seen Better Days’ and ‘Ultraviolet’, showing just how easily Voyager can move between heavier sections and the huge melodic choruses that have become such a big part of their sound. ‘To the Riverside’ gives the evening a slightly different feel before ‘Ghost Mile’ brings another big response from the room. This is followed by the first reading from Voyager: The Brightest Stars, a mock children’s book that somehow gets more bizarre as it goes on.
Musically, there is very little to fault throughout the evening. Simone Dow and Scott Kay are incredibly sharp on guitar, Alex Canion brings plenty of movement and personality to the stage, while Ash Doodkorte keeps everything locked together from behind the kit. At the centre of it all Danny switches between keyboards and vocals while constantly interacting with the crowd. There always seems to be something happening, but it never takes away from the songs themselves.
‘To the Morning Light’ is followed by an older favourite in ‘Everwaiting’, which earns another huge reaction before the next chapter of the children’s book is revealed. ‘I Am the Revolution’ and ‘The Meaning of I’ give longtime fans plenty to enjoy, while the important bald community announcement that follows once again proves that Voyager will take almost any opportunity to make themselves laugh.
The closing section is where the crowd really seems to find another level. ‘Promise’ is met with an enormous singalong, with the Eurovision favourite sounding even bigger inside this room. ‘Gren (Fearless in Love)’ follows before ‘Ascension’ brings the main set to an emotional close. The band leave the stage, although nobody in the venue appears ready to go home just yet.
Voyager soon return for one final song, closing the evening with ‘White Shadow’. It is a fitting end to a show that has mixed incredible musicians, with plenty of humour and a real feeling of connection between the band and their fans.
This show felt very much about the band being welcomed back to the stage after a long time away and by God did they deliver on their return. Hopefully with the constantly improving health of Danny Estrin we won’t have to wait so long for them to return to our shores.
Photo credits: Tom Atkin
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