Debarup MukherjeeIt has been years since progressive rock titan Steven Wilson last graced Indian shores, and the anticipation for The Overview Tour was nothing short of electric. On November 7, 2025, that energy found its release at Aquatica, Kolkata, where Wilson delivered not just a concert, but a masterclass in immersive audio-visual storytelling.
For a city deeply rooted in arts and culture, Kolkata’s debut Steven Wilson show was a long time coming. The wait, however, was entirely worth it.
The Atmosphere: A Quadraphonic embrace
From the moment you stepped into the venue, it was clear this wasn’t a standard rock gig. Known for his obsession with sonic perfection, Wilson brought a quadraphonic sound setup to the open-air venue—a rarity for live events in India. The result was a soundstage that felt three-dimensional, wrapping the thousands in attendance in a pristine, crystal-clear mix where every synth texture and bass groove could be felt in the chest.
Set 1: The Overview
The evening was split into two distinct acts. The first half was a bold dive into the future, dedicated largely to his new project, The Overview. Tracks like “Objects Outlive Us” and the title track “The Overview” set a hypnotic tone.
Set against a backdrop of breathtaking, space-themed visuals—floating astronauts, cosmic debris, and abstract landscapes—the performance felt less like a gig and more like a sci-fi cinema experience. It was a risk to open with new, dense material, but the Kolkata crowd, known for its “nerdy” appreciation of complex music, absorbed every note with reverence.
Set 2: The Hits and The Heavy
If the first set was cerebral, the second was visceral. Wilson and his virtuoso backing band—featuring the formidable Nick Beggs on bass and Craig Blundell on drums—shifted gears into the heavy, jagged rhythms that define his solo career.
Highlights included the frantic energy of “Vermillioncore” and the haunting beauty of “Ancestral” (from Hand. Cannot. Erase.), which saw guitarist Randy McStine tearing through solos that left the audience speechless. The emotional peak, however, came with “The Raven That Refused to Sing,” a track that brought a hush over the entire ground, proving that Wilson’s melancholy is as powerful as his distortion.
The Porcupine Tree Connection
Wilson often jokes about his complicated relationship with his past, but he gave the fans exactly what they wanted. Addressing the crowd, he noted how Indian audiences are uniquely “metal yet emotional,” before launching into the Porcupine Tree classic, “Lazarus.”
It was the night’s unifying moment—a mass singalong that drowned out the PA system, connecting the older generation of PT fans with the newer solo listeners.
Steven Wilson didn’t just play in Kolkata; he curated an experience. Between the pristine sound engineering, the cinematic visuals, and a setlist that balanced artistic progression with nostalgic fan service, the show at Aquatica set a new benchmark for live international acts in the city.
For those of us at Calling All Gigs, it was a reminder of why we obsess over live music. Steven Wilson remains a singular force in modern rock, and Kolkata is already counting the days until his return.