For over two decades, Kaiser Chiefs have been one of the UK’s biggest indie bands, earning their reputation as a must-see live band off the back of energetic shows and party atmospheres.
Their noughties indie records have stood the test of time, and this month they have been continuing the 20th anniversary celebrations for their breakthrough record, ‘Employment’.
Simon Rix (bassist) joined us to reflect on revisiting the band’s debut album on tour, and what fans can expect at the likes of Neighbourhood Weekender later this year.
He also discusses how a Leeds homecoming at Temple Newsam became one of their most special shows to date, and shares thoughts on festival crowds, northern pride, and the early stages of album nine…
NC: We’ll start with the Employment tour, which returned this month. How have the 20th anniversary shows been?
Simon: “It’s been really nice. We had a bit of time off over Christmas and January, so we were slightly out of the habit, but it’s felt like a reset going back to those songs. The show itself is quite different to a normal Kaiser Chiefs set. At festivals, you’ve got an hour or so to make sure everyone’s having the best possible time, so you build the set around that. With Employment, the set is fixed, it’s the album in full, then maybe a few extras at the end. What’s been great is seeing people really get into the non-single moments. Songs like “Born To Be A Dancer” sometimes get lost over the years, so it’s brilliant to feel the crowd fully engaged with those too.”
NC: Do you think some fans are even more excited to hear those deeper cuts than the big singles?
Simon: “Hopefully! That’s probably why people buy tickets. The songs aren’t bad live, they’re just ones that fell by the wayside because we’ve written more and more over the years. We’ve even been doing a B-side and might add a couple more on this run because the venues are a bit smaller and more theatre-style. When you play those places, it’s often the more hardcore fans who might prefer a B-side to “I Predict A Riot.” It’s a niche group, but they’re out there!”
NC: What has it been like revisiting some of those early songs?
Simon: “When we rehearsed the album, I expected it to be hard, but it was actually really easy. We’d played and rehearsed those songs so much back in the day. A lot of them are quite simple, a riff, one idea, and that reminded me that songwriting doesn’t have to be overcomplicated. Sometimes as a band you search for big choruses and clever bits, but those early songs were just natural. Playing those basslines again felt instinctive. It’s been good inspiration for whatever album nine becomes.”
NC: Speaking of the future, what can we expect at Neighbourhood Weekender? Will it be the Employment set or a festival set?
Simon: “We’ll be back to a festival set. The final date of the Employment run will probably put that to bed for now. Neighbourhood Weekender is one of the first big shows of the year, so we’ll be excited to play those songs again, but it’ll be a hits set. I like to rotate the squad a bit, some songs like “Ruby” always stay, but others get swapped in and out. So we’ll have a think about what Warrington might want to hear.”
NC: Kaiser Chiefs feel made for festivals. What can people expect from your live show?
Simon: “People always ask that and I never know if they mean lasers or pyrotechnics! We sometimes have that stuff, but mainly it’s about getting on stage and bringing energy. I see our job as setting people up for the weekend, getting everyone in a good mood. That probably comes from our early days when we supported so many bands like U2, Foo Fighters and Green Day. We were used to warming people up when not everyone was there to see us. Even now, whether we’re headlining or not, that mentality sticks. Festivals are about escaping normal life, sitting in a field, and having a great time, and we’re there to help that along.”
NC: Do you still feel that strong northern connection at festivals like Neighbourhood Weekender?
Simon: “Definitely. We recently played Kendal Calling and Boardmasters and the difference in the crowds was noticeable. Kendal felt very northern, loads of football shirts, and we felt right at home. We always love playing Yorkshire, of course, but some of our best ever gigs were in Manchester at the old MEN Arena. There’s a rivalry, but it’s friendly. You sort of adopt the local mentality wherever you are in the North.”
NC: Temple Newsam in Leeds was a huge homecoming show. What was that like?
Simon: “It was a massive deal. It was only the second or third time we’d played Employment in full, which seems mad now. But everything came together perfectly. Leeds had just been promoted, so it felt like we were celebrating the band, the album, the city and the football club all at once. It was funny because the show was announced almost a year in advance, so people kept mentioning it to me. By the time it happened, it felt like there was a lot of pressure, but thankfully it lived up to it.”
NC: Nick Hodgson returned for that show. How did that feel?
Simon: “That was special. Nick’s always been my mate, we still sit next to each other at football. When he left the band, I always thought I’d regret it if we never did anything together again. When we started doing Employment, he understandably wanted to be involved. We worked out a way for him to join us, and it was great. I’d love to do something like that again if we can make it work.”
NC: And Patrick Bamford playing guitar, how did that happen?
Simon: “We were working with the football club because it was a homecoming show, and someone mentioned we might be able to get the trophy on stage. I jokingly said Patrick could bring his guitar and play a song, and 30 seconds later I got a message from him saying he was on a plane but definitely interested! He actually learned the song from YouTube and played it really well. I was impressed. I did think he might have a more expensive guitar, though, I could’ve given him some advice!”
NC: Finally, can we expect new music soon?
Simon: “Yes. We’ve probably been a bit lazy. The last couple of albums felt hectic, so it was nice to step back and enjoy playing Employment without stress. But maybe we relaxed a bit too much. We’re going to start writing album nine soon. It sounds like a big number, but when I look at other bands from around our era, they haven’t always made that many records, so I feel like we’re ahead of the game. At Neighbourhood Weekender, people probably don’t want loads of new music, but they might get one song. Don’t worry though, there’ll be plenty of hits too.”
You can see Kaiser Chiefs and many more heading to Neighbourhood Weekender at Victoria Park, Warrington (23rd-24th May 2026). Head to Home – Neighbourhood Weekender – Neighbourhood Weekender for more information and tickets.
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