Leicester rock kingpins Kasabian took to the main stage at Electric Picnic on Saturday evening with a renewed sense of purpose. The band recently released their latest album Happenings, their first since the departure of vocalist Tom Meighan in 2020 under controversial circumstances.

Axeman Serge Pizzorno has seamlessly taken over the reins, and to be honest, he’s who I’ve have always associated with the outfit. With his distinctive hair, larger-than-life attitude and a name like Serge Pizzorno—let's face it, that's a frontman name if ever there was one—he’s pretty much born to be the main guy in a rock band. He looked the part too, taking to the stage in a Versace T-shirt and glittery white suit.

Kasabian at Electric Picnic 2024 by Jason Doherty.

Kasabian don’t shy away from sharing their new stuff, which holds its own in a live setting. The songs are groovy, experimental, and fun, with plenty of intense, synth-heavy atmospheres and wah-wah guitar solos anchoring down the fact that what’s happening is still very much a rock concert.

That being said, their big hits are big for a reason. The band kicked off their set with ‘Club Foot,’ and its iconic, badass distorted bass riff had fans singing along with fervour. ‘You’re in Love with a Psycho’ was similarly a crowd-pleaser, as was ‘Shoot the Runner’, which brought an epic, twangy action-film-score vibe to the stage. The gig culminated with the explosive ‘Fire,’ which lived up to its name, igniting several mosh pits around the main stage.

Kasabian at Electric Picnic 2024 by Jason Doherty.

Kasabian’s EP 2024 set was colourful and intense. They might be seen by some as a group which peaked a while ago, but they're more than capable of holding their own as a main event act - thanks to Pizzorno’s dynamic presence and the band's ability to blend old favourites with new, ambitious sounds.