Since starting this blog almost two years ago I’ve been surprised how many concerts I come out of and can’t find an angle that justifies writing a review. Songs played well, slightly predictable setlist, the old hits went down the most, the singer was in a bit of a mood but told a great story about the last time they played the venue… But I’m not sure I’ve ever come out of a show where I’m worried I won’t be able to find the right words to convey the true majesty and spectacle of the show that I’ve just witnessed.
For Wolf Alice 2025 was the year where it felt their decade and a half of blood and sweat truly paid off. The Clearing became their second number one album and their first headlining arena tour, topped with two sold out nights at London’s O2 Arena, showed they’d made the step up from cult indie darlings to wearing the crown of the UK’s most popular and vital bands. When they were then announced as the closing act of the the 2026 Teenage Cancer Trust shows (of which this was my third show I’d somehow managed to acquire tickets for) it was notable that they were the only headliners who could be described as contemporary. With that pressure on their shoulders to stand up against a line up of exalted peers I don’t think anybody would have been disappointed if the band had treated the show as an extension of their current tour and rolled out the huge popular set that they had honed to perfection over the past year. Instead what they delivered was a uniquely crafted and you would presume completely one off show fitting for the grandiose location, full of surprises and iconic moments that will surely ear mark the show as a seminal moment in their history.
That this wasn’t going to be just another night of the the tour was obvious from the the moment the band stepped out on stage Singer Ellie Roswell had swapped her iconic leotards for an elegant black shoulderless dress, perfectly suited for the last night of the proms. Instead of now traditional set opener Thorns the band instead launched into Heavenward, marking the song’s first performance of the current era. Written as a tribute to Ellie’s childhood friend Flynne who sadly lost her battle to cancer, it’s hard to think of a more fitting song they could have used to begin with on a night dedicated to raise money to support those going through such terrible events.
From there the first section of the night focussed on recent album The Clearing, the joyous reception given to the likes of White Horses, Two Girls and The Sofa showing how those songs have quickly become engrained in the musical consciousness of those who are part of the Wolf Alice story. The climax of The Sofa having the highlight of seeing Ellie clambering into the stands and laying on the seating to perform the final chorus, much to the delight of the fortunate fans nearby who could never have dreamt when they’d bought their tickets how close they’d be to their idol. I’ll probably never know whether the seats were left deliberately empty or if Ellie had simply acted on an opportunity she’d spotted, but it was one of those tiny moments that fitted perfectly to the evening.
Then the band threw in an unexpected twist to the evening; joined by a quartet of folk musicians a fifteen minute interlude of traditional covers along with live debuts of not one but two previously unreleased Wolf Alice songs, the section showing that if they ever get tired of being one of the most essential groups in the world a back up career as a a ceilidh band is still an option. Of course, to make space for this section something had to drop from the setlist and it was noticeable that the heavier songs such as Smile, Yuk Foo, Giant Peach and You’re a Germ were slightly surprising absentees. It says something about the confidence of the band that they could switch out so many sure fire crowd pleasers for unknown and unreleased songs and still deliver a phenomenal set.
Returning to more familiar material the final third of the main set felt like a celebration of all that was Wolf Alice, nodding to the past and the present and the ever growing legacy of the group. With bassist Theo seemingly as excited as anyone else to be in the historic venue, Bros turned into the highlight of the night, seeing even those in the top tiers of seats rising to their feet to dance in jubilation to the moment. After all that there was still room for one final set list surprise, with fan favourite Swallowtail given its first live outing in almost a decade to a combination of shock and delight from those in the crowd who had long given hope on its return. An encore of Last Man on Earth (with Ellie backed spectacularly by the venue’s iconic organ) and Don’t Delete the Kisses rounded off the evening in a fashion that only disappointed that it couldn’t keep going.
As someone who goes to far too much live music, from the small clubs to gigantic outdoor events, from the legends of the industry to those just starting out, I’ve struggled to think of a night which seemed so perfectly formed with not a single moment where the performance dropped off. Wolf Alice are currently at the level which every aspires to be at, where you wonder if they can put a foot wrong if they try. Where the band go next and how they try to top such an evening is anyone’s guess, but I hope I’m both there to see it and can find the words to describe it.
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Wolf Alice performed:
Heavenward
White Horses
Just Two Girls
Leaning Against the Wall
How Can I Make It OK?
The Sofa
Midnight Song
Hit the Sky
The Kesh Jig / Give Us a Drink of Water / The Flower of the Flock / Famous Ballymote
Gospel Oak
Delicious Things
Lipstick on the Glass
Bread Butter Tea Sugar
Bros
Swallowtail
Bloom Baby Bloom
***
The Last Man on Earth
Don’t Delete the Kisses
Alex Reviews Gigs 
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