Foals

Foals are a British rock band who started out as a chaotic math-rock project and, a few years later, evolved into a group capable of performing with equal confidence in small clubs and at huge festivals like Glastonbury. In this article, we’ll tell you about the band members and their concerts, and provide an overview of their albums and songs.

Who are Foals?

Foals’ music embodies constant movement. The band’s early releases featured plenty of broken rhythms, sharp guitars and danceable energy, whilst later works introduced atmospheric tracks, massive choruses and a rock-inspired grandeur. It is worth noting that the band has never remained stuck in a single sound. Foals’ songs feature in the line-ups of major rock festivals.

The band’s story began in 2005 in Oxford. The project was initially formed by musicians from several local bands, and vocalist and guitarist Yannis Philippakis quickly became the driving force behind the group. It was his style of performance – emotional yet detached – that eventually became Foals’ trademark.

The band’s debut album, Antidotes, was released in 2008 and immediately set Foals apart from the dozens of British indie bands of the time. The album reached number three in the UK charts and quickly became a cult favourite among fans of alternative music.

But the real breakthrough came later. The album Total Life Forever gave the band’s sound a more expansive and atmospheric feel, whilst the song ‘Spanish Sahara’ became one of Foals’ signature tracks.

Following the release of Holy Fire and especially What Went Down, the band became a fully-fledged festival headliner. Their music became heavier, more aggressive and more accessible to a wider audience.

Foals’ live performances deserve a special mention. Even those who are indifferent to their studio albums often admit that the band sounds completely different on stage – louder, harder and far more emotional. Foals’ live concerts have long been considered one of the band’s greatest strengths.

Over the years, the band’s line-up has changed. In 2018, bassist Walter Gervers left the band, and in 2021, keyboardist Edwin Congreave departed. Despite this, Foals continued to release new music and tour extensively. Today, they are regarded as one of the most prominent British rock bands of their generation. The band has avoided dramatic slumps, scandals and attempts to pander to trends. Foals continue to make music that is instantly recognisable from the very first seconds.

Foals members

Over the years, Foals have changed their line-up several times, but the core of the band has remained virtually unchanged. It is this, in large part, that has helped the band maintain its distinctive sound – from the edgy math-rock of the Antidotes era to the more expansive and melodic albums of recent years. Each member of Foals has their own role: some are responsible for the chaotic energy, others for the atmosphere and rhythm, and together they create that very sound which is hard to mistake for anyone else’s.

Yannis Philippakis

Yannis Philippakis was born on 3 April 1986 in Greece, and later moved to England. He is the lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter of Foals. Before the band formed, Yannis played in the math rock band The Edmund Fitzgerald, where he met the future members of Foals. It was his unusual guitar style and emotional vocals that formed the basis of the band’s early sound.

On stage, Yannis has long since become the central figure of Foals. During concerts, he regularly jumps into the crowd, climbs onto barriers and turns performances into chaotic spectacles. At the same time, on later albums such as ‘Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost’, he has also established himself as a strong melodist, capable of writing highly atmospheric songs.

Jack Bevan

Jack Bevan was born on 21 December 1985 in England. In Foals, he plays the drums and is regarded as one of the main architects of the band’s signature sound. It is largely thanks to his playing that Foals’ early songs sounded so energetic and distinctive – with constant tempo changes and complex drum patterns.

Jack was part of the band’s original line-up and has featured on all of Foals’ studio albums. Over time, his style has become less chaotic and heavier, particularly from ‘Holy Fire’ and ‘What Went Down’ onwards. Despite this, elements of the math rock that marked the band’s beginnings are still easily recognisable in his playing.

Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith was born on 11 January 1985 in England. He initially joined Foals as a touring musician, but later became a full-time member of the band. Within the band, Jimmy plays guitar and keyboards, helping to create the richer, more atmospheric sound of their later albums.

His role became particularly prominent after Foals began moving towards a more expansive alternative rock sound. Jimmy is responsible for many of the textured guitar parts and atmospheric elements that feature prominently on Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost and Life Is Yours. At live shows, he also helps maintain the band’s dense and rich sound.

Walter Gervers

Walter Gervers was born on 28 August 1983 in England. He has been Foals’ bassist since the band’s formation and contributed to all their key early releases – from Antidotes to What Went Down. His bass lines have become an integral part of Foals’ signature groove, particularly on the albums Total Life Forever and Holy Fire.

As well as playing bass, Walter occasionally contributed backing vocals and helped with the band’s visuals. In 2018, he officially left Foals. The band stated that the decision was amicable, and Walter went on to pursue other musical and creative projects. In 2023, Walter returned to the band. Yannis Philippakis announced this on social media ahead of a series of concerts and festivals.

Former members

Andrew Mears was one of the founding members of Foals and the band’s first lead singer. It was he who came up with the band’s name even before Yannis Philippakis took on the role of frontman. However, Andrew left Foals fairly quickly – before the release of their debut album, Antidotes. After that, he focused on other musical projects.

Edwin Congreave was born on 3 January 1987 in England and remained one of Foals’ most low-key yet crucial members for a long time. He was responsible for the keyboards, synthesizers and atmospheric elements that had a particularly strong influence on the sound of Total Life Forever and Holy Fire. In 2021, Edwin announced his departure from the band, citing a desire to pursue other projects and focus on his personal life.

Foals Concerts

Live, Foals music sounds much heavier and more emotional than on their studio recordings. This is particularly evident in the songs ‘Two Steps, Twice’ and ‘Inhaler’.

One of the first truly major festivals for Foals was the Glastonbury Festival. In 2008, the band performed there following the release of their debut album ‘Antidotes’, and in 2010 they returned with a completely different status – following the success of ‘Total Life Forever’. Their set was often cited as one of the most powerful performances on the alternative scene that year.

Following the release of Holy Fire, the band firmly established themselves among Britain’s leading live acts. In the summer of 2013, Foals performed again at the Glastonbury Festival, on the main stage, drawing a huge crowd. Around the same time, they won the Q Award for Best Live Act.

The Reading Festival deserves special mention. For British rock bands, appearing at this event is considered a mandatory test of headliner status. Foals had been working towards this for a long time: initially playing daytime slots on smaller stages, then gradually moving up the line-up. As a result, in the summer of 2016, the band became one of the main headliners for the first time, not only at the Reading Festival but also at the Leeds Festival.

By that point, Foals were already filling large venues across Britain. For example, many fans still consider their concerts at Brixton Academy to be the band’s best shows from the Holy Fire era. It was there that Foals’ live energy was particularly evident, featuring noisy improvisations and an absolutely wild reaction from the audience.

During the Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost tour, the band moved on to even larger venues. In 2019, Foals played a major concert at Alexandra Palace – one of London’s most famous venues. This was a significant step for the band: having started out playing small clubs in Oxford, they gradually rose to become stars of the British music scene, drawing crowds of thousands.

Following the release of the album ‘Life Is Yours’, the band continued touring Great Britain. In 2022, Foals performed at the OVO Arena Wembley and also played a concert at the Utilita Arena Birmingham. By this point, it had become abundantly clear that Foals had long since moved beyond being merely an ‘indie band’, evolving into one of the leading British rock bands of their generation.

Fans also often recall the band’s performance at the Royal Albert Hall. This venue is usually associated with more academic concerts, but the band managed to retain their signature energy even there. The show turned out to be less chaotic than their festival performances, yet more atmospheric and emotional. It is their live shows that have largely made Foals who they are today. Their studio albums may vary in mood and sound, but on stage the band always remains instantly recognisable – loud, energetic and utterly unpredictable.

Albums and popular songs

Their debut album, Antidotes, was released in 2008 and immediately put Foals on the map in the UK. It was a very rhythmic and restless record. It was then that the hits “Cassius” and “Olympic Airways” emerged.

Their second, far more successful album, Total Life Forever, was released in 2010. In 2013, Foals released Holy Fire, featuring the tracks “My Number”, “Inhaler” and “Late Night”.

Their next release, What Went Down, dated 2015, proved even more aggressive. The title track, “What Went Down”, quickly became a staple of all Foals concerts. The album as a whole turned out to be darker and harsher than their previous works.

In 2019, the band released two parts of the Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost project. These albums (the first part was released on 8 March 2019, and the second on 18 October) showcased two sides of Foals: on the one hand, atmospheric and melancholic songs like ‘Exits’; on the other, heavy and noisy tracks such as ‘Black Bull’.

Many consider ‘Life Is Yours’, released in 2022, to be the band’s lightest and most danceable release. Following the rather sombre mood of their previous albums, Foals created an album inspired by disco, funk and the atmosphere of summer festivals.

Foals most famous songs:

1. “Spanish Sahara”
2. “My Number”
3. “Mountain at My Gates”
4. “What Went Down”
5. “Inhaler”
6. “Late Night”
7. “Exits”
8. “2am”
9. “Cassius”
10. “Two Steps, Twice”

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