Live Review: Gnome - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
1st April 2026
Support: Wall
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
A midweek trip to KK's Steel Mill on April 1st might sound like a tough sell, but with Belgium’s rising stoner oddballs Gnome rolling into town, there was never any doubt this would be worth it. With Oxford duo Wall in support, the stage was set for a night of riffs, groove, and just the right amount of absurdity.
As it turned out, Wolverhampton was ready to embrace the weird, as The Razor’s Edge team arrive, the queue for merch is out of the door and we watch in awe as nearly every one of the 150+ strong crowd buys at least a red gnome hat (if not more) from the merch. It’s safe to say Gnome made a killing on merch tonight, and no doubt the rest of the tour too.
Wall take to the stage with minimal fuss but maximum impact. As a two-piece built purely around riffs and rhythm, there’s nowhere to hide and this is exactly where their strength lies. The Cole brothers lock in immediately, delivering a barrage of thick, fuzz-drenched grooves that feel far bigger than the sum of their parts.
What really stands out is their chemistry. There’s an almost telepathic tightness to everything they do, shifting between sludgy crawl and punchy bursts of energy without missing a beat. The absence of vocals never feels like a gap, instead it allows the audience to get completely lost in the sheer weight of the sound, every riff soaked up into the audiences soul.
From the moment Gnome hit the stage, there’s a palpable shift in energy; part gig, part surreal theatre and totally bonkers. Known for blending heavy stoner riffs with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour, they immediately pull the crowd into their bizarre, brilliant world, as a sea of 200 fans in bright red gnome hats get into the groove.
Opening with ‘Duke of Disgrace’ and ‘Wenceslas’, the band waste no time in getting bodies moving. The riffs are thick and infectious, but it’s the personality behind them that elevates everything. Frontman Rutger Verbist is a constant presence, grinning and gurning through every note, clearly feeding off the crowd’s growing enthusiasm.
Songs like ‘Jebediah Supreme’ and ‘Golden Fool’ showcase the band’s ability to balance groove with playful unpredictability. ‘Blacksmith’ and ‘John Frum’ keep the momentum high, with the rhythm section driving things forward with relentless energy.
Closing run ‘Rotten Tongue’, ‘Old Soul’, ‘Kraken Wanker’ and ‘Ambrosius’ are nothing short of euphoric. The crowd is fully bought in by this point, singing, moving, and completely immersed in the Gnome universe (or is that the “Gnomeverse”?). It’s chaotic, it’s joyful, and it’s absolutely unforgettable.
Gnome have created an experience, and on this evidence, their cult status is only going to grow louder, weirder, and a whole lot bigger.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
