Public Service Broadcasting & London Contemporary Orchestra

There are few venues better suited to Public Service Broadcasting’s mix of nostalgia, genre-blending art rock, and cinematic spectacle than the Barbican Centre. The brutalist architecture of the Barbican, a bold experiment in form and function, mirrors the band’s own fascination with high-concept human endeavour.

Tonight’s concert, however, is no ordinary show. PBS are joined by a 20-piece string section from the London Contemporary Orchestra and guest vocalist EERA, bringing their already cinematic sound to new heights. Across two sold-out performances — a 3pm matinee and an 8pm evening show — the band delivers a masterclass in immersive storytelling, fusing music, light, and film into a single breathtaking experience.

The stage is dominated by a glowing airplane heads-up display, a visual nod to their latest album, The Last Flight. Inspired by the story of Amelia Earhart, it’s perhaps the band’s most contemplative work yet — and one perfectly suited to orchestral accompaniment. The lush strings give emotional depth to the music, drawing the audience into the triumph, tragedy, and legacy of her airborne adventures.

PBS have always been chroniclers of human achievement and willpower. From the optimism of the space race to the decline of the Welsh coal industry, their archival samples and pulsing electronics reimagine history like no one else. At the Barbican, those recordings — voices from the past — feel newly alive, framed by swelling orchestration and dazzling visuals.

EERA’s guest vocals add a refreshing dimension to the instrumentalism of PBS. Her presence shines particularly on “The Fun of It,” a buoyant ode to taking to the skies. In contrast, the haunting “People Will Always Need Coal” hums with an uneasy rhythm, capturing the misplaced optimism of industry in 1970s Britain.

The tension and release of “Go!” send a ripple of excitement through the crowd, while the driving “Spitfire” reminds everyone of the band’s rock roots. Soon, the audience abandons their seats entirely, dancing to the throbbing Berlin beat of “People, Let’s Dance.”

Yet it’s the joyous chaos of “Gagarin” — complete with dancing cosmonauts and a live horn section — that turns the evening euphoric. As lights flare and cheers rise, "Everest" closes the set, a soaring tribute to the human desire to climb higher, dream bigger, and keep moving forward — exactly what PBS do best.