Finn Keogh is one half of the London‑based alt‑rock quartet Keo, a band that’s been carving out a reputation on the live circuit since their early days.
Backstage at Reading Festival 2026, the brothers Finn and Conor Keogh reflected on the band’s journey from the raw energy of their 2025 EP Siren to the looming release of their debut album.
Meet Finn Keogh
Growing up alongside his sibling, Finn helped shape Keo’s sound in a modest London flat, recording most of their early material live with minimal gear. The group’s DIY ethic meant they spent five days tracking the EP before any label support arrived, a process Finn describes as chasing “the sweet spot between sounding like a record and sounding spontaneous.”
Keo’s fanbase has been built on the road, with the brothers insisting that the energy of a live take often outweighs technical perfection. “Sometimes the most well‑played take isn’t the best take you’ll go for,” Conor once said, a sentiment Finn echoes when talking about the band’s ethos.
Sound and the debut record
The upcoming album Put A Smile On For Me, due September 25 via Island Records, leans into that live‑room vibe. Finn notes that the production deliberately avoided heavy polishing, letting amps bleed into drum mics and capturing “a big room” feel, thanks to friend Harry Jordan’s engineering.
Listeners can expect a collection that feels both immediate and thoughtful, drawing inspiration from the imperfect charm of John Martyn’s Solid Air and Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York. The band’s commitment to preserving the rawness of performance aims to give fans a record that feels as alive as a concert.
For a deeper look at the musical landscape surrounding Finn’s peers, read more here.
