As the countdown to Download begins, we caught Don Broco kicking off the countdown with an intimate warm-up gig at Southampton’s Engine Rooms…

Words and photos by Alia Thomas (@aliathomasphoto) | June 11, 2025

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As festival season kicks in, so do the epic warm-up shows that accompany the stellar lineups. Last night at Southampton’s Engine Rooms, Download Festival-bound Don Broco proved exactly why they’re ready to take the main stage by storm. Returning to a city they hold dear, the Bedford rockers kicked off their pre-festival run with explosive energy, supported by the fierce sounds of Scottish newcomers Dead Pony.

Dead Pony warmed the crowd up nicely before Don Broco entered the room. The guys always bring a whole new level of energy to the stage and this time was no different with Damiani, guitarist Simon Delaney and bassist Tom Doyle bouncing around the stage throughout the whole set with the occasional classic guitarist high kick from Delaney. The crowd barely stopped moving and the room never went quiet. It was a beautiful return for the Don Broco boys and with hints of a new album coming, the excitement around the band is back and growing.

Don Broco owned the night, proving once again why they’re a force to be reckoned with. If this show was any indication, their upcoming festival appearances (and whatever follows) are not to be missed. The countdown to this weekend’s Download Festival starts now.