Gig review: Don Broco at Motorpoint Arena

It's a moment frontman Rob Damiani apparently knows all too well, as he recalls the exact moment on stage four years ago when they were last in the East Midlands. Off the height of a Top 10 album in Technology, the four-piece graced the Motorpoint Arena during the early stages of 2019. Among a glittering setlist celebrating the most recent album, we bore witness to one of the biggest circle pits recorded on the tour. A pivotal moment which, not only showcased the city's love and loyalty to the heavy rock scene, but also reaffirmed Don Broco being arguably one of the biggest guitar rock bands in the UK.

Now, they return two years out from recording their fifth record, sounding as bold and decisive as ever.

Before we could end the four-year wait, however, we were treated to a truly mega support casting. Hard rock entourage of Magnolia Park came all the way from Florida to share their insatiable bops from their latest VAMP this year, as well as as their usual familiars. Brighton-based YONAKA - a tad closer to home than Florida - followed suit with their burrowing sounds of mood and tension. Call Me a Saint and Seize the Power were on the billing before they too imparted their latest singles to the crowd from their upcoming record in March next year.

A blistering run of support acts was finalised with pop-punk pioneers State Champs (below) who took little time to blast through their elevating hits perfect for warming up the crowd before the main event.

Celebrating their reprising role, the Bedford boys gave us plenty to sink our teeth into with a gigantic 21-track setlist. Igniting their most thrilling era yet, the fifth record - not yet named - is laden with heavy vocal-driven knock-outs. This is set to include Cellophane, the new lead single which kicked off proceedings under the impressive production lights. Encompassing their journey up to this point, Broco also blasted out all the firm favourites. Pretty and Technology reaffirmed their status as gargantuan stadium anthems, splicing in seductive techno lines. Meanwhile, Gumshield and Bruce Willis from their most recent record Amazing Things (2021), also marked the band's forethought in producing some of most devastating choruses across multiple records. The atmosphere was electric: fans both old and new rode wave after wave of euphoric release amongst circle pits and old-friend embraces as there was rarely a moment to pause and take breath.

Amid all the noise, however, there was a moment of quiet reflection to the past - and to the future. A moving proposal in Row A brought about frontman Rob and guitarist Simon performing a commemorative acoustic version of You Wanna Know, as they joined the newly engaged couple in the audience. YONAKA's Theresa Jarvis then joined the band back on stage as she brought vocals to a beautiful retelling of Further, stripped back from it's original seen on 2015's Automatic.

An encore of Everybody saw chaos ensue, before the ever infamous T Shirt Song saw 10,000-odd gig-goers whirl clothing around their heads. The special night in Nottingham was then capped off with the bands' next chapter. With its raw energy and profoundly absurd lyricism, heavy-rager Hype Man rounded out a truly massive performance from a band truly at their pinnacle.

After more than a decade of shapeshifting across a span of genres, they are ready to enter new, heavy territory. And the ever-expanding fanbase are riding right alongside them. 

Thanks boys - it's good to have you back. 

Don Broco performed at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on 2nd December 2025.

@donbroco