Amid rumours of Radiohead headlining Lytham Festival this year – which sadly proved untrue – the next best thing made their debut at Lowther Pavilion last week, The Radiohead Project. Amber Archer went along to see if this tribute could do justice to the band’s genre-defying catalogue.
The four-piece wasted no time, launching into a driving, anthemic rendition of The Bends, before shifting into the glitchy, pulsing textures of Airbag. Frontman and curator, Will Sharp, then introduced The Radiohead Project. Currently touring the UK, it’s an experience crafted for those familiar with Radiohead’s richly-layered catalogue, and the audience at Lowther certainly fit the bill.
From The Bends, Will led the audience through a setlist curated from Radiohead’s classic albums – a fitting tribute, as this year marks both the 30th anniversary of The Bends and the 25th anniversary of Kid A.
A crowd favourite came in the form of Paranoid Android – an epic, multi-layered performance, with Will’s impressive vocal range matching the song’s dramatic shifts and soaring guitar work.
Anyone that knows Radiohead I’m sure will agree how distinct Thom Yorke’s voice is, yet Will delivered a performance that was both captivating and convincing – though certainly a tribute rather than imitation. He also took to the piano for a beautifully intimate rendition of Pyramid Song.
Working in sync with the music, the projection design created an immersive backdrop that drew the audience deeper into the atmosphere and scale of each track as promised – enrapturing the audience in each song.
Other highlights included the tender High and Dry, hypnotic Weird Fishes – a personal favourite – and the slow-burning Fake Plastic Trees which drew the set to a close.
Fittingly, there were No Surprises in the anticipated encore, followed by the raw familiar Creep, which brought the night to a powerful close. This may not have been Radiohead, but it wouldn’t be fair to say they were a close second either. The Radiohead Project was an experience in its own right, and well worth checking out if you get the chance.
The Radiohead Project continues its tour until September 2026, with their closest upcoming shows being Bolton and Leeds.
