Of Monsters and Men bring their infectious energy and anthemic sound to Birmingham for their Mouse Parade Tour

O2 Institute, Birmingham, 25 February 2026

One of the biggest names of the 2010s, who exploded onto the music scene with their 2012 debut album My Head Is An Animal, Of Monsters and Men, have produced their first record in six years, All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade. Following the album’s release in October 2025, fans received a highly anticipated announcement of the European tour. The band is hitting all corners of the continent to promote their fourth studio album, and the O2 Institute in Birmingham is part of their travel checklist.

Equality is clearly at the heart of Of Monsters and Men

As the lights dim, the expectant crowd are met with the instantly recognisable symphony of the intro of the Icelandic indie folk/rock band’s first single, and opening track, on the new album, ‘Television Love’. The excited crowd reaction grows to a raucous applause as the silhouetted figures of the band emerge from off stage, immediately capturing their audience with their silky vocals and atmospheric melodies. Unsurprisingly, as the night progressed, the setlist was largely dominated by songs from their most recent record, with drummer Arnar Rosenkranz Hilmarsson posing as a specific highlight, particularly during ‘Styrofoam Cathedral’, bringing a boundless energy to every member of the captivated crowd.

The stage is set up simplistically, reflecting the band’s ethos of building a perspective of life that focuses on appreciating and showing kindness to all living things, no matter their size or significance.  Their music covers these themes, with standout tracks like ‘Dirty Paws’ referencing a four-pawed beast that intervenes in a battle between “the birds and the bees”. Equality is clearly at the heart of Of Monsters and Men, with the band’s members assembled on stage in a line that doesn’t emphasise the importance of a member over any other.  Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir and Ragnar þórhallsson stand shoulder to shoulder as the two leading vocalists, and their frequent glances to each other with smiles on their faces as they share lyrics capture the joy of performing as equals as well as friends.

The band perfectly execute transitions from stripped back acoustic deliveries that get the audience swaying, to more upbeat renditions of some of their biggest songs, with every word of the immensely popular ‘Little Talks’ shouted back at them, culminating in a beautiful, collective outro as the music drops out and the entire venue sings as one, “Though the truth may vary / This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore.”

Hilmarsdottir’s softly spoken vocals fill the venue for one final time as the eight minute song builds and builds

To close off the night, a fake exit is met with the entirety of the crowd clapping and cheering until, for the second time, the band emerge from darkness to pick up their instruments and announce they have two more songs.  A brief monologue from Hilmarsdottir and some humorous back and forth with audience members leads into ‘From Finner’ a song from their first album which is introduced as a track that “we haven’t played live very often”. Then, fans had a switch up for the final song of the night, as front man þórhallsson trades in his guitar to lend his musical talents to the piano, where he elegantly introduces the longest song on the Of Monsters and Men roster: ‘Fruit Bat.’  Hilmarsdottir’s softly spoken vocals fill the venue for one final time as the eight minute song builds and builds into a final, four minute crescendo of piano, guitar, drums, and horns that fully captures the magic and the essence of the band that they have been able to deliver for over a decade.

Looking ahead, the Icelandic group may well be returning to big festivals following their 2026 tour – their fanbase remains as strong as ever due to the new album feeling like a nod to the nostalgic, intimate storytelling that really put them on the map in the early 2010s.

★★★★