Kraftwerk come to Bournemouth

Kraftwerk at Bournemouth International Centre on 2.6.2026.

As I increasingly appreciate the financial aspect of being able to see a band pretty much on the doorstep, the prospect of Kraftwerk in Bournemouth fell in to the unmissable bucket. A Kraftwerk tour coming to Bournemouth was a big surprise and as the forerunner to their three consecutive nights at the Royal Albert Hall.

I am no lifetime fan – there are plenty here – but they have been there as an influence for so many since their 70s beginnings, and always served as a reference point for electronic music…even a Bowie influence.

I’d absorbed the singles and I did get to see them in 2025 at the Forever Now one day festival at Milton Keynes Bowl. That was a shorter festival set and outdoors and I thought the more intense indoor experience needed to be had.

No support tonight. A two hour performance with four individuals behind their terminals and keyboards, the one on the far left is original Kraftwerk co-founding member, Ralf Hutter.

The others appear to include Henning Schmitz, with Kraftwerk since 1991, and two video technicians, touring members since 2023. They clearly have a key role. The performance is one of sound and vision. Both futuristic and retro at the same time.

It’s extremely atmospheric: a full house which appears mostly to be hugely respectful of the band’s status. A few chatterboxes in rows behind me don’t appear to have any sense of their own irritation with their booming and banal exchanges. Behaviour degenerates further, later, with an increasingly loud dispute as I hear some selfish halfwit proclaiming that he ‘just wants to enjoy himself’ before being wrestled out under protest by security.

The audience is slightly odd. Nicely odd. Kraftwerk hardcore and some come wearing in the striking red shirt/ black tie look.

The set is drawn from eight albums, the most notable being Computerwelt, including the very familiar Computer Love and five tracks from Die Mensch-Maschine including The Model, The Robots and Spacelab. The Model is pretty special. I have the 12″ single.

The radioactive section reminded of the period of obsession with increasingly publicly displayed radioactive symbols – Radioactivity and Geiger Counter complete with the crackles and beeps of fear.

A map appeared to show location and Kraftwerk superimposed on a photo of the front of the BIC, just to confirm, yes they are here.

Autobahn, complete with retro VW Beetle and Mercedes images was a highlight but the whole audio visual package of the Tour de France tracks exceeded that with old race footage. Audio alone winner for me was Trans-Europe Express, perhaps because I hear it trailing the TalkSport international football programme of the same name.

It is a different experience seeing and listening to Kraftwerk and their programmed works. An essential box to tick I felt, both before and after. Immersive, enjoyable and that was probably the last chance for me to see any sort of original member live input.

Two hours of intensity whizzed by, which took me by surprise. Well worth experiencing.