Kaleo: The 2026 Way Down We Go Tour

July 16, 2026 – Stir Cove – Council Bluffs, IA

Thursday night, July 16, 2026, was another perfect night for live music at Stir Cove in Council Bluffs, Iowa, as Kaleo brought the Way Down We Go Tour to town. The weather could not have been much better for an outdoor show, and with Dawes opening the night, fans definitely got their money’s worth.

Stir Cove has been killing it this year with an amazing lineup, and this was another strong addition to the summer concert season.

The night kicked off with Dawes, and they sounded great.

Dawes is a folk rock band from Los Angeles, California, now made up of brothers Taylor Goldsmith on guitars and vocals and Griffin Goldsmith on drums. The band has long been associated with a Laurel Canyon-inspired sound, drawing influence from artists like Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young.

The band originally formed out of Simon Dawes after the departure of co-songwriter Blake Mills, shifting from more of an indie-rock direction into the warmer folk-rock style they have become known for. Their debut album, North Hills, was recorded in Laurel Canyon in a live setting direct to analog tape, which helped give the record its vintage feel.

Over the years, Dawes has released several albums, including Nothing Is Wrong, Stories Don’t End, All Your Favorite Bands, We’re All Gonna Die, Passwords, Good Luck With Whatever, Misadventures of Doomscroller, and Oh Brother. They have also performed on several late-night shows, toured with major artists, and continued building a dedicated fanbase through their songwriting and live performances.

Taylor Goldsmith sounded great. His voice has an easy, natural quality that works perfectly in an outdoor setting, and the band’s set had a relaxed feel that fit the evening really well. Dawes currently has over 422 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, and their latest single, “Jazz on the Autobahn,” is definitely worth adding to a chill playlist.

It was a great way to open the show.

After a brief intermission, it was time for Kaleo, and when the band took the stage, the crowd went nuts.

Kaleo is an Icelandic blues rock band formed in Mosfellsbær in 2012. The band is made up of Jökull Júlíusson, also known as JJ, on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and piano; Rubin Pollock on lead guitar; Daníel Ægir Kristjánsson on bass and keyboard; Davíð Antonsson on drums, percussion, and backing vocals; and Þorleifur Gaukur Davíðsson on harmonica, bongos, and keyboard.

The band has released four studio albums: Kaleo, A/B, Surface Sounds, and Mixed Emotions. Their 2016 album A/B helped launch them to a much larger audience, especially with “Way Down We Go,” which became a massive hit, reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and was certified double platinum in the United States. The band also received a Grammy nomination in 2017 for Best Rock Performance for “No Good.”

Kaleo’s sound blends blues rock, indie folk, and alternative rock, and there is something about that mix that hits even harder live. They have songs that feel dark and moody, others that are big and gritty, and then there are moments where everything strips back and JJ’s voice takes over.

These guys know how to put on a show.

Júlíusson’s voice is something you need to hear in person to really get the full effect. It is soulful, pure, and powerful without ever feeling forced. He can make a song feel huge one second and hauntingly quiet the next. That kind of control is rare, and it was one of the biggest highlights of the night.

The rest of the band sounded fantastic too. Rubin Pollock’s guitar work gave the songs plenty of edge, Daníel Kristjánsson and Davíð Antonsson kept everything locked in, and Þorleifur Gaukur Davíðsson added those extra textures that help give Kaleo their distinct sound. Together, they created a set that felt polished, emotional, and intense in all the right ways.

Of course, “Way Down We Go” was a huge moment. Hearing that song live with the crowd singing along was exactly as good as you would expect. It’s one of those songs that already feels cinematic, and hearing it outdoors at Stir Cove made it even better.

Kaleo currently has nearly 12 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and their latest single, “Still No Good,” is amazing. They continue to prove that they are much more than one massive song. Their catalog has depth, style, and a sound that feels completely their own.

This was a great night of music from start to finish. Dawes opened the show with a strong, laid-back set, and Kaleo gave fans a powerful performance that was absolutely worth the wait.

If you ever get the chance to see Kaleo live, make sure you do.