Last Friday, the legendary gentlemen of Deep Purple took the stage at Antwerp’s Lotto Arena. This was part of their ‘Splat! World Tour 2026,’ and for the European leg of this tour, the band brought along the young, promising gentlemen of Jayler as the opening act.
But first, you have to actually get to your destination. While an average drive to Antwerp usually takes me an hour and fifteen minutes, the travel time on this rainy Friday afternoon had doubled due to massive traffic jams. Anyway, once you arrive, you still face the challenge of finding a suitable parking spot. After we’d overcome all those hurdles, we were ready for an evening of classic rock.
Jayler
First up, Jayler’s young musicians took the stage in an already packed Lotto Arena. The sound was good, and these guys certainly had nothing to complain about when it came to the lighting either. The energy of these musicians in their early twenties radiated from the stage, and singer James Bartholomew also has a great set of vocal cords when performing live. Guitarist Tyler Arrowsmith is an energetic talented guitarist with a great guitar sound, and drummer Ed Evans and bassist Ricky Hodgkiss form a tight rhythm section.
The opening track, “Down Below,” immediately makes it clear to the audience that we’re dealing with an extremely talented band from England. A band that—not only in terms of musical style but also in terms of fashion choices—is very reminiscent of some other band from back in the days. In Jayler’s case, however, that’s definitely meant as a huge compliment. Singer James also plays the harmonica with great passion and delivers a convincing guitar performance on several songs. “The Getaway,” “Riverboat Queen,” or “Over The Mountain”—they’re all performed with tremendous fire and passion. And that energy definitely rubs off on the audience; it’s rare to see so much interaction from a support act for a major headliner like Deep Purple.
Jayler also nailed their performance live and played an incredibly tight and passionate 45-minute set. And I don’t think I was the only one in the audience who would have appreciated a few more songs. A top-notch band that you should definitely keep an eye on. There’s still hope for the next generation in the classic “hard” rock genre. Keep an eye on those guys!!
Deep Purple
After a changeover that lasted a full 45 minutes [a bit long for my taste], it was time for the evening’s headliner. A stunning video wall behind the band’s instruments ensured that even the people in the back rows could see the band clearly.
The opener of the evening, “Highway Star,” proved that the lighting and sound were top-notch. It was magnificent, and the band still plays this classic with passion. However, it immediately becomes clear that the vocals will be the weakest link of the evening. At 81, Ian Gillan is still giving it his all on stage, and that fact alone is admirable. He’s aware that he needs to take care of his voice, and that makes perfect sense. Still, it’s naturally noticeable.
Bassist Roger Glover [80] and drummer Ian Paice [78] aren’t exactly spring chickens either, but they still play with incredible precision and inspiration. Keyboardist Don Airey [78] is also in top form. Guitarist Simon McBride [47] is the “youngster” of the band and performs Deep Purple’s songs—both current and classic—in a beautifully respectful manner.
“A Bit On The Side” from the album ‘=1’ and “Into The Fire” from ‘In Rock’ are the next songs on the evening’s setlist.
Although I can understand it given the lull between songs, the first solo moment—a guitar solo by Simon—came right after “Into The Fire.” Unfortunately, these aren’t exactly the highlights of a show for me; they’re more likely to put you to sleep and are the perfect time to grab a drink or use the restroom. In addition to this solo, there were also two keyboard solo moments in the show. Too much for me, anyway, but perhaps there are fans who do appreciate these moments. I’m more of the “just play two or three extra songs” variety—that’s more my style.
still rocking out
With “Arrogant Boy” and “Diablo,” the band plays the first songs from their latest album, ‘SPLAT!’. The classic songs are seamlessly interwoven with Deep Purple’s more recent work. Say what you will about the band, but they aren’t just coasting on the success of the ’70s and ’80s. They’re still making excellent albums of the highest caliber, and despite their advanced ages, they’re still rocking out in packed arenas all over the world. The setlist strikes a nice balance between old and newer material.
I think the fans saw a great Deep Purple show and could go home feeling satisfied. No, the band no longer plays some classics like “Child In Time,” but that’s not a problem when you still have so much else to offer. Deep Purple is still a more than relevant band in 2026, and let’s hope we get to enjoy them on stage for a few more years.
Setlist:
Highway Star
A Bit On The Side
Into The Fire
Arrogant Boy
Diablo
Lazy
Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
Sacred Land
Lazy Sod
Perfect Strangers
Space Truckin’
Smoke On The Water
Guinnesis
Hush
Black Night
Report & Images by Raymond Helebrand
