KALEO
When: 8th April 2027
Location: O2 Academy
KALEO are a soulful Icelandic rockers famous for their electrifying performances. Coming to Glasgow’s O2 Academy on 8th April 2027.
Known for the way they gorgeously blend folk, country, rock and blues. The five-piece KALEO have become one of Iceland’s most successful music exports. Formed in Mosfellsbær in 2012. The band is comprised of frontman Jökull Júlíusson (aka JJ Julius Son), bassist Daniel Kristjansson, drummer David Antonsson, guitarist Rubin Pollock and harmonica player Þorleifur Gaukur Davíðsson.
They released their debut eponymous album in 2013 and followed it with A/B in 2016. Within the span of those three short years, KALEO scored a trifecta of hits. Including Way Down We Go, No Good (which received a Grammy nomination) and All The Pretty Girls. Their songs also appeared in a trailer for the film Logan. As well as on television shows like Suits, Grey’s Anatomy and Riverdale. In addition, KALEO had relocated to Austin, Texas after being signed to Atlantic Records.
Their isolated heritage has inspired their unique majestic rock sound. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the band embarked on a pair of tours – the Handprint Tour and the Express Tour – which saw them travel the world playing every kind of venue ranging from nightclubs to stadiums, with stops for summer festivals such as Coachella and Bonnaroo. KALEO also opened a series of stadium dates for The Rolling Stones plus performed a stellar set at 2018’s Lollapalooza in São Paulo, Brazil.
In 2020
In 2020, the band released the lead single I Want More, trailed in early 2021 by the track Break My Baby. KALEO’s third album Surface Sounds arrived April 2021, accompanied by a video for the song Skinny featuring JJ Julius Son performing in front of an erupting volcano.
The band have made several of their music videos in stunning locations in Iceland including on a rock by Þrídrangar lighthouse, inside the dormant Þríhnúkagígur volcano and on an iceberg in the middle of Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.
In 2021, the band released the acclaimed Surface Sounds, featuring singles including ‘Break My Baby’, ‘I Want More’ and ‘Skinny’. Showcasing KALEO’s trademark blend of gritty blues, cinematic rock and intimate songwriting, the release was supported by the extensive Fight Or Flight World Tour, which saw the band return to stages around the globe.
Drawing inspiration from Iceland’s dramatic landscapes
Renowned for visually striking performances and music videos, KALEO frequently draw inspiration from Iceland’s dramatic landscapes. Over the years, the band have filmed and performed in extraordinary locations including atop glaciers, inside dormant volcanic craters (and besides erupting ones) and at the remote Þrídrangar Lighthouse, creating unforgettable imagery that reflects the scale and atmosphere of their music.
In 2025, KALEO entered a new chapter with the release of Mixed Emotions, featuring tracks including ‘Rock N Roller’ and ‘Lonely Cowboy’. The album expanded the band’s blues-rock foundations while balancing both introspections and social commentary, particularly on the single ‘USA Today’.
With the Way Down We Go Tour set for UK and European venues in spring 2027, the Icelandic outfit continue to captivate audiences worldwide with songs that balance raw emotion, soulful songwriting and explosive energy.
