Flares, Funk & Flying Solos – DeWolff Back To The 1970’s At Oxford O2 Academy
- Sam Holt
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
O2 Academy Oxford April 17th 2025
WORDS AND IMAGES SAM HOLT
The band DeWolff is ‘new to me’, but they’ve actually been around for quite some time, steadily perfecting their unique brand of psychedelic blues rock. During a recent tour stop at Oxford’s O2 Academy, I finally got the opportunity to see the band live – and it turned out to be a night to remember.
Tonight’s visit is part of their global ‘Club Tour’, which sees them stopping off at a wide variety of venues worldwide. It’s a great opportunity for them to showcase their recently released album Muscle Shoals, which, from what I understand, adds a more soulful element to their already rich and eclectic sound. The band is made up of brothers Pablo van de Poel (guitars/vocals) and Luka van de Poel (drums/vocals), joined by Robin Piso on the Hammond organ – an instrument that plays a huge part in shaping their vintage, retro-tinged sound.
Opening tonight’s show are Silveroller, a band who’ve previously shared the stage with DeWolff. Their music is unashamed rock and roll, deeply rooted in the 1970s, and they make no apologies for it. While the influence of that era is clear, they’ve done a great job of bringing it into the 21st century, and they perform with passion, style, and infectious energy. Their enthusiasm is genuinely contagious, and when combined with their flamboyant stage presence – including what vocalist Jonnie cheekily called their ‘power flares’ – they really looked the part. Most importantly, the Oxford crowd absolutely loved them.
As the main event begins, Pablo asks the crowd, “Are you ready to join the night train?” – the cue for the band to launch into the groove-heavy opener. It’s a terrific way to kick things off, instantly pulling the audience in with its fusion of bluesy, funky, and soulful sounds. It’s a bold blend, but somehow, it just works. As expected, their setlist featured several tracks from the new Muscle Shoals album, alongside fan favourites from Love, Death and In Between. Midway through the set, Pablo took a moment to reflect, reminding the crowd that we all had choices – and tonight, we’d all chosen to be here at the O2 Academy, together, instead of sitting at home on the sofa. It was a simple sentiment, but a powerful one, connecting the band with the audience in a genuinely heartfelt way.
Musically, there were standout moments throughout the performance. I particularly enjoyed Pablo’s guitar work on Will O’ the Wisp, where his solo shone brightly. The whole band had opportunities to step into the spotlight – Luka delivered a powerful moment during Out On The Town, which was met with loud cheers, while Robin’s contributions on the Hammond were nothing short of impressive. Not only did he handle the underlying basslines throughout the entire show, but he also stepped forward with expressive solos in several songs, adding depth and character to the performance.
DeWolff are clearly an outstanding group of musicians – each member is a fine player in their own right – but it’s when they come together that the magic truly happens. Their collective sound is tight, well-rehearsed, and full of soul, and their inspirations are easy to spot, evoking the golden era of rock and roll. With their embroidered shirts, flared trousers, and vintage sound, I genuinely felt like I had been transported into a 1970s bar downtown. That illusion was only briefly broken when Pablo pulled out a smartphone mid-song to film a video for a fan – a small but amusing reminder that we are, in fact, still in the 2020s.
One of the highlights of the night came during Treasure City Moon Child, when Pablo tapped his guitar and asked, “Who’s knocking at the door?” as local blues icon Krissy Matthews joined them on stage. The two guitarists complemented each other beautifully, their talents weaving together in a way that elevated the track and brought even more electricity to the room.
After a fantastic set, the night culminated with Nothing’s Changing, a powerful and fitting closer. It was my first time seeing a band that has been active for 17 years, and I genuinely found myself wondering what I’ve been missing out on all this time. Their sound, their style, and their stage presence made for a terrific evening of music, no matter how you choose to categorise it.
It’s clear that DeWolff are a band who not only love playing live, but who also share a real chemistry with their audience. Earlier in the evening, Pablo had taken time to stop and pose for photos with a fan – a small gesture that speaks volumes about their attitude. As I left the venue and, figuratively, the 1970s, I felt like I had to reluctantly return to the 21st century after such an immersive experience.
SETLIST
1/ Night Train
2/ Heart Stopping Kinda
3/ Natural Woman
4/ Will O’ the Wisp
5/ Out on the Town
6/ Restless Man
7/ Snowbird
8/ Vicious Times
9/ Treasure City MC
10/ Nothing’s Changing
11/ Rosita
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