Smith/Kotzen w/ Kris Barras Band @ O2 Ritz, Manchester 13/02/2026

Friday night in Manchester. There’s nothing better than getting the train and going into the city and getting to a gig. I love having some good rock music to see live, and they don’t come much better than this! Two legends, two titans of the rock world. Adrian Smith, most notable for his work in the legendary Iron Maiden. Richie Kotzen is a guitar virtuoso known for his unique approach to rock music. He’s also the frontman of progressive rock collective, The Winery Dogs. A few years ago, when they announced their collaboration, I think it turned some heads. They certainly had my attention, and I have been interested in checking them out live for a little bit of time now. Well, this night was the night. The O2 Ritz is always such a fantastic venue for a rock show; the acoustics in the room create this amazing surrounding effect. The venue filled up slowly, and the atmosphere built. Everyone in the room was ready for a night of rock and roll. I always get a special feeling bracing for a night of rock ‘n’ roll.

Opening things up were British hard rockers, Kris Barras Band. I’ve seen these guys before, when they opened for Black Stone Cherry. However, they’ve evolved a lot since I last saw them. Their sound was big and bold. Their in-your-face attitude was so energising to watch. Their personalities lit up the stage as they launched into their set. Their set was so entertaining, from the riffs to the bass-grooves to the solos. Fronting the band is the eponymous singer Kris Barras. The Torquay-born frontman is such a charismatic presence. The way he kept the crowd engaged and involved throughout the set was excellent to watch play out. The set was wall-to-wall bangers from their catalogue with a couple of new tracks from the forthcoming album thrown in. The new songs have made me surprisingly ready for a new album. Their music is a great blend of southern rock, blues and alternative rock. All of which combined makes for such an entertaining ride. They certainly had a connection with the Manchester audience. When Kris spoke, the crowd listened to him. The crowd was excellent for them, singing along to the big songs as they engaged in the call and response. Even when it came to the new songs, the crowd were fully invested in their sound. However, I think that is a testament to the character of this band. This is what I love about the rock scene in the UK. We recognise and get behind up-and-coming talent. The Kris Barras Band stood out this evening. The fact that the legendary Smith and Kotzen played, and this set still stood out in my mind, is really something. Their sound is excellent, and their presentation puts a spotlight on their talents.

There was a brief intermission as more people piled into the venue. The O2 Ritz always feels like the T.A.R.D.I.S. You never think that so many people would be able to fit inside, but there always seems to be room.

The lights dimmed, and it was time for the show. As much as I didn’t want to say this, it’s always weird seeing musicians you’re used to seeing in one setting shine in another. However, watching Smith/Kotzen in this setting was a blast. The two guitarists absolutely shone as they worked off one another. Their set moved along at a great pace; there was very little time between songs, outside of Adrian Smith acknowledging the venue and Richie Kotzen introducing songs. However, the songs were excellent. From the first moments of the set, I was locked in and engaged. The twangy guitar tones echoed through the venue, and the way Kotzen would, without a word, pass the moment to Smith and back again. It was like a dance of music. Backing the pair up was the incredible talent of Bruno Valverde on the drums and Julia Lage on the bass. They created this fantastic framework for Smith and Kotzen to play around in. The Manchester crowd was really into it as well. They were cheering for every moment as mega-fans willed on the set. The one thing I noticed is just the joy on Adrian Smith’s face. I was standing in front of him,m and you could see the calm serenity in his face as he went into guitar solos. You could tell there is just something inside of him that can only be expressed when he plays guitar. That’s not to take anything away from Richie. That man can play for days. The solos he was able to bust out on this night were exquisite. This was simply an excellent set.

The songs from this set were incredible. They were able to intermingle songs from the first and second albums with ease. It all felt so coherent, so cohesive. Like just one collective sound, but with monster solo after monster solo. The were that Smith and Kotzen harmonised, you could just tell how close they were from the way they collaborated with each other. This was a sublime concert. Everything fell right into place, and the set was so well rehearsed that it played out as smooth as butter. I feel so fortunate that I got to experience this set!