British alt-rock sensation Keo brings their debut album to Belgium
Updated: Sep 7
Keo may be the band you have never heard of—but that everyone seems to be talking about. The British four-piece has emerged as one of alternative rock’s most exciting new acts, particularly among younger audiences who were already singing every word of their unreleased songs before their debut album had even arrived.
The band was formed by brothers Finn and Conor Keogh, who moved from Devon to London in search of like-minded musicians. Joined by drummer Oli Spackman and guitarist Jimmy Lanwern—with Finn on vocals and guitar and Conor on bass—they began building their sound on London’s live circuit.
Keo’s music draws from the ’90s grunge and alternative rock that influenced them, as well as the traditional Irish folk music that soundtracked the brothers’ childhood. Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Pearl Jam helped shape their post-grunge sound: melodic, raw and emotionally charged. More contemporary acts such as Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C. have also left their mark. Yet, as Finn explained to Guitar.com, “We definitely took a lot of influence from those bands, but we were already on our way to figuring out how to make something new.”
Their five-track debut EP, Siren, arrived in June 2025. Its breakout single, 'I Lied, Amber', became a viral success, introducing Keo to a young TikTok audience that quickly connected with their emotionally intense, guitar-driven music. Since making their Belgian debut in support of Nieve Ella at Le Botanique in March 2025, Keo have rapidly expanded their presence on the live circuit. They appeared at showcases and festivals, including The Great Escape, Dot to Dot, and SXSW London, before embarking on their first UK and Ireland headline tour. The tour sold out, with several concerts upgraded to larger venues due to demand.
In spring 2026, Keo completed their biggest UK and European headline tour to date. It included two nights at London’s Electric Ballroom, a sold-out concert at Manchester’s 1,500-capacity O2 Ritz and their first Belgian headline show at Trix in Antwerp in April that year. They then spent the summer supporting Wolf Alice at major outdoor concerts and appearing at festivals including TRNSMT, Truck, Kendal Calling, Y Not, Boardmasters, Lowlands, Reading, Leeds and Electric Picnic. Their growing relationship with Belgian audiences reached another milestone in July, when they performed on NEST stage at Rock Werchter and played a secret acoustic session elsewhere on the festival site.
Keo’s debut album, Put a Smile on for Me, will be released on 25 September. Eleven days before its official arrival, the band will celebrate with a special and intimate album-presentation show at Ringo Music Bar in Ghent, organised in collaboration with Music Mania Records. Anyone who orders the album through Music Mania’s website will receive a complimentary duo ticket for the concert.
Definitely, this band is stomping into the alt-rock scene, and this is an album presentation not to miss.
Pre-order 'Put a Smile on for Me' on Music Mania Records website.
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