Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ is sounding larger than ever tonight in Milan’s industrial venue Alcatraz. The iconic words “I did it my way” float through the pipelines on the ceiling, which still give away the venue’s factory origins. While the song is still playing, Bleachers make their way onto the stage. The band takes a strong stance, allowing the crowd to loudly cheer them on and feed them the energy they need to kick off the first European stop of their Bleachers Forever Tour. The stage is packed, with the band counting seven members tonight and seemingly unlimited access to a range of instruments that give away the musical explosion awaiting us. As each member grabs an instrument of their choice, the show starts with ‘sideways’. Somehow, it does an excellent job of continuing where Frank Sinatra left off as they sing “Watched you make a fake call. Memorize the highway. Back then, you were a miracle. You did it your way”. The show continues with another offering from their latest album, everyone for ten minutes. As if the three pianos, two drum sets, two saxophones and keyboards on stage aren't enough already, Jack Antonoff pulls another instrument out of his pocket: the harmonica. It becomes the true star of ‘the van’, elevating the folk sound of the soft-rock song. The Milanese crowd is here to party. This becomes clear the moment Evan and Zem launch into ‘Modern Girl’ with a soaring saxophone. It’s the perfect song to test the energy in the room tonight. And trust us when we say the energy is big. Everyone in the audience happily joins in, from the cheerful “Woah oh oh” to the loud screams. No one is holding back. This sense of freedom is clearly encouraged by frontman Jack, who, in turn, jumps around as if he were alone in his room with no one watching and absolutely no shame. As he sings “Play it like a heart attack for ya. We play it like a heart attack”, he throws his body around uncontrollably, making his voice hitch. As a producer and songwriter for artists as Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter, Jack knows how to tell a story. He sings with a certain sincerity and urgency, especially when the lyrics become personal, as they do on ‘Everybody Lost Somebody’. Even though his fans are singing along at the top of their lungs, it's almost as if he's talking and shouting his way through the noise. His ability to deliver the songs in such a conversational, raw way is exactly what makes Bleachers stand out from other bands. The same happens during ‘Goodmorning’. Towards the end, a saxophone solo takes over the vocals, bringing the song up close and personal through instrumentation alone, before Jack joins in again and they end on a beautiful interplay between harmonica and saxophone. Parts of the show feel like a summer festival. The joy the band brings to the crowd, encouraging everyone to chant along to the simpler parts of the songs, has us feeling as though we're standing in the burning sun, surrounded by strangers who feel like friends, beer in hand and singing at the top of our lungs. It's songs such as ‘dirty wedding dress’ and ‘Rollercoaster’ where this feeling is at its strongest. For the latter, we're asked to climb onto each other's shoulders. Before we know it, the venue is filled with fans climbing on top of one another, creating a sea of people up in the air. Their hit ‘I Wanna Get Better’ gets two moments during the show. Jack tells us that the song was initially written as a folk song before eventually being released into the world as the huge indie-rock anthem we know today. The version it was originally meant to be allows the band to take a short break, as the lead singer performs the acoustic version by himself. This folk interpretation gives him the chance to show off his warm, intimate voice. Fans of the original version don't have to worry, though. Near the end of the night, we're treated to the full, energetic and explosive version of the song as well. Twice the fun! The highlights of the night go to songs from their third studio album, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night. We've never had particularly strong feelings about which Bleachers album is our favorite, but hearing them take turns performing songs from each of their releases makes it clear that this is the album that sounds at its very best live. For ‘Chinatown’, the band adds another member as they invite one of their fans onto the stage to play guitar and sing along. This spontaneous moment adds to the overall easy-going vibe we've been feeling throughout the night. The way the band casually walks around the stage and switches instruments effortlessly is incredibly comforting and beautiful to witness. The band closes the night with ‘Stop Making This Hurt’. The song's production gives everyone another chance to shine and perform at full force. A night that started with Sinatra facing the final curtain ends with Jack telling us to say goodbye like we mean it. We do.
The heat inside Lido in Berlin feels like a group of ballroom dancers has just left the building to make space for tonight’s crowd. The stained red ceiling is hung with crystal chandeliers and a disco ball. Ryan Beatty is styled for the occasion in an all-black tuxedo suit. His five-piece band, dressed casually, takes the edge off, giving the space some much-needed informality. Nothing about the setup hints at the American singer’s newly found love for country and Americana-inspired music. The lead single from his latest album, Sweet Fortune, is chosen to open the show. ‘Secret Language’ has the crowd dialled in from the very first word. Ryan’s voice is compelling and present in the room, demanding the crowd’s attention. It’s the best choice to start the show, blending everything that awaits us into one song: romantic, country-tinged indie pop with strong Americana and folk influences. While he does an excellent job bringing the song to life, we’d hoped the euphoric harmonica and warm horns from the studio version would make it onto the stage. ‘White Lightning’ hits the sweet spot, presenting country-like instrumentation without ever overdoing it. The way the twangy, guitar-led sound manages to stay moody makes it the perfect partner for Ryan’s effortless melodic flow. On ‘Virtuoso’, there is no holding back on the country vibes. The up-tempo number starts and finishes with a guitar solo. The sharp, rapid guitar playing transports you straight to the rural Southern and Western United States. Just like on the studio version, the band never does too much, allowing each instrument to shine to its fullest. The simplicity makes for a more traditional, folk-inspired country song. Ryan is not one for a theatrical or expressive stage presence. His storytelling and songwriting get all the attention they deserve, without distractions. The size of the stage feels exactly right for what we’re being presented with tonight. A bigger stage would take away from the intimacy of the words being sung to us. The evening makes it clear that he is a songwriter first, rather than your typical performer dancing and talking their way through the tour. There is barely any talking between songs, no origin stories behind the music being performed, just lyrics written in a way that makes it feel as though he is singing directly to you rather than performing for a crowd. ‘Delancey’ tells the story of the emptiness that follows a hookup when there is no real connection with the person he was with. Substitutes like alcohol and reminiscing about the past become distractions from finding real love and connection. He takes a seat, blending in with his band and giving off the impression that he doesn't want to be seen as he expresses his truth. The moment calls for haunting reverb on the microphone, creating distance between the listener and Ryan. It feels like a painful representation of a brilliant songwriter facing the consequences of having to sing about his experiences night after night. Goosebumps. “Spotlight simmers on the floor and falls on the ingénue, in powder blue and I watch her from the wings” sets the mood for a big theatrical number. Something about ‘Phantom’ is reminiscent of Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love’. Maybe it’s the euphoric build-up of the live instruments, the way his voice keeps layering to sound bigger and fuller, or the moment when the song strips back to just the keys being played. Unlike Queen, Ryan never fully explodes into a big musical spectacle. He stays calm and composed, giving just enough to build the same tension without ever losing his identity. As the show comes to an end with the ballad ‘Fleur De Lis’, we leave with plenty of moments to think about in the coming days. The way he brings a story to life on ‘White Teeth’ has the crowd locked in, and his crystal-clear falsetto on ‘Annie, Anything’ has them cheering him on at his highest notes. Songs like ‘Bruises Off The Peach’ and ‘Andromeda’ give his band space to go all out, and give his album Calico a moment to shine. Ryan Beatty stays true to himself, despite the expectations that might come with a live show. This is just the way we like him.
Ella Eyre is used to running across festival stages to drum ’n’ bass drops. Tonight she’s sitting down, in the middle of a three-piece band, in the basement of Quasimodo, Berlin’s jazz club since 1975. Her career really took off thanks to her contributions to the music of DJ Fresh and Rudimental. The latter gave her a massive breakthrough with ‘Waiting All Night’, a number-one single that won the BRIT Award for British Single of the Year in 2014. Big drum ’n’ bass music with pop influences quickly became her signature sound, guaranteeing her a place on festival stages thanks to its high ‘gets-the-party-started’ factor. There’s no escaping it: you’ll know her biggest songs and find yourself singing along to every word. We’re not going to lie, the thought of seeing an artist like Ella perform in such a stripped-down setting had us worried for a minute. The small room breathes history, and the heat in the basement feels clammy in the best way possible. The crowd is on its feet, impatiently waiting for Ella to open with ‘head in the ground’, the lead single from her latest album. It sets the tone for the night: an unlikely catalogue reworked into jazzy, almost jam-session versions, belted out in a voice that’s larger than life, or at least larger than this room. Watching it unfold right in front of us quickly takes away every concern. Her powerful, husky and slightly raspy voice is the perfect instrument to serenade the jazz club. What a luxury it must be for an artist this far into her career to play a small, intimate show, truly connecting with fans on a much smaller scale. She doesn’t need the big stage, the theatrical energy or endless crowds to bring her music to life. The fast-paced chorus of ‘Diamonds’ almost mimics jazzy scatting. The song revolves around the search for the perfect match, with a sense of begging and pleading woven into its lyrics. “Where the hell are all the fish out there? Plenty of them in the sea they said. So far all that I found are great whites tryna bite down but I been looking for the real damn thing” feels strongly reminiscent of RAYE’s successful hit ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’. Ella herself seems to agree, seamlessly blending TikTok’s favorite part of the song into the live performance: “I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger, I would like a big and shiny diamond”. It’s almost scary how well the two songs come together, showcasing Ella’s musicality to the fullest. While her latest album, everything, in time, lends itself perfectly to an intimate jazz performance thanks to its retro funk and more soulful pop sound, the hits most people know her for need brand-new arrangements. Together with her talented band, consisting of keys, guitar and bass, she transforms dance music into unexpected stripped-back versions. Tonight ‘Deep Down’, her collaboration with Alok that reworked The Bucketheads’ ‘The Bomb!’, goes fully back to basics, showcasing just how strong its memorable hook is and proving that all it needs is an incredible vocalist. Ella jokingly tells the crowd that tonight’s version of her other DJ collaboration, ‘Came Here For Love’ with Sigala, is the perfect love song. Press record and remember to use this live version for your wedding. The night celebrates her new music but wouldn’t be complete without throwbacks to her debut album, Feline. The highlight of the evening goes to ‘If I Go’. Following recent developments in her career, the lead single from her debut album takes on a whole new meaning. Vocal surgery during the pandemic and creative disagreements with her former label prompted a major turning point, leading the singer to go independent. As she emotionally sings, “But if I go, will you love me? Will you love me until I can? And do you know, will you want me? Will you want me like that? And if I leave, will it end?”, it feels like a direct ode to the fans who showed up at the venue tonight. It gives us chills to think about the uncertainty that comes with going independent, not knowing whether your fans will come along for the journey. Hearing the crowd singing back each word answers that question. Magical. Ella announces that 'Hell Yeah' is her last song, and the incredible show comes to an end. The evening seemingly finishes right there, without an encore. The crowd strongly disagrees. Even as the music starts playing and the lights come on, they keep the standing ovation going, begging the singer to return to the stage. While some people leave the crowd, taking the signs of the show's ending seriously, others refuse to give up. Persistence pays off as Ella and her band surprisingly return, explaining that this really wasn't the plan and that they were already ready to leave the venue. They simply had to come back and give us one last taste of her discography. She can't promise to get all the lyrics right for this spontaneous final song, but she does promise to leave on a high as she energetically performs ‘Just Got Paid’. We leave the building buzzing. It might be near midnight on a Monday, but none of us want the night to end. Photos by Stephen Golden
Having picked up the saxophone at the age of 11, Charlie Jeer has spent years developing his musical identity, long before his name started circulating on social media. After gaining wider attention through his appearance on reality TV show Too Hot to Handle, the British musician found his way into the music scene with his independent release ‘Her Eyes’, a debut single that blends his saxophone background with smooth vocals and electronic production. Since then, Jeer has been carving out a space of his own at the intersection of jazz, soul and house music. Last night, he brought that distinctive sound to the stage in Berlin. The night promises a unique blend of music. Charlie takes to the stage with his saxophone, backed by a DJ behind the decks. An unexpected duo, ready to show the crowd how to bring all these elements together. The tone for the evening is set with ‘Nobody’ from his debut EP Everything Is Temporary. It’s the perfect introduction to the world he has built. The house-leaning track is heavy on electronic production, allowing him to move comfortably between his newly found passion for singing and his saxophone playing. We’re not going to lie, the music that first caught our attention has been the more disco-pop and funky releases on his latest EP, Take Away My Problems. It’s on these songs that we feel his pop-star potential shines the brightest. They give him a chance to step away from the more straightforward, slightly cheesy club sound that marked the beginning of his career in commercial music. Songs such as ‘Mona Lisa’, ‘Sun Is Gone’ and the viral TikTok hit ‘Her Eyes’ feel somewhat shallow compared to what he is showing us on his latest EP. Obviously, this is great news, as it shows he is exploring a new sound and moving in a direction that suits him. We love getting a breather from feeling like we’re dancing in a club in Ibiza to hear the brilliant Cat Burns collaboration ‘Small Talk’. Instead of the female vocals on the track, we get Charlie’s saxophone stepping in to play a major role, making sure he still has something to duet with. While we might not be massive fans of some of his older work, we’re open to being proven wrong about this more house-forward sound working for him. The performance of ‘Molecules’ from his latest EP does exactly that! The almost haunting production shows us how it’s done. The electronic elements remain dominant, but in a way that leaves space for Charlie to deliver his best vocal moment of the night before smoothly leading into the saxophone part of the song. Another moment where this sound translates perfectly to the stage is his cover of Calvin Harris’ ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. The highlights of the show come when Charlie leans into the funky, soulful sound of ‘Jennifer’ and ‘SO GOOD’. At times, his incredible saxophone playing overshadows his potential to become your next favorite pop star. It’s on songs like these, however, that his talent as an instrumentalist matches his pop-star potential. Charlie is incredibly talented, and with his saxophone as his secret weapon and a sound that is continuing to evolve, his future looks incredibly bright. We can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
Some voices make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time. Jalen Ngonda is one of them. With his smooth vocals, timeless soul sound and undeniable love for the golden era of Motown, the singer has been bringing classic soul to a new generation. On his Doctrine of Love Tour, he brought that magic to Berlin’s Huxleys Neue Welt, turning the venue into a celebration of love, heartbreak and the kind of soul music that never goes out of style. The stage decor is simplicity at its very best. No extravagant props or elaborate designs take up space on stage. Instead, eight strategically placed lighting fixtures and live instruments are all it takes to set the scene. Together, they evoke the days when Soul Train was in full swing, with a modern twist that makes the whole setup feel right at home in 2026. The band, consisting of drums, keyboards, electric guitar, electric bass and congas, is joined by two backup singers who look as though they’ve been transported straight from the Motown era. When we say we’ve never heard a live male voice quite like Jalen’s, we’re not exaggerating. His rich, expressive tenor, smooth and supple in tone, with a slight rasp and a beautifully effortless falsetto, gives us yet another reason to wonder whether we’ve truly travelled back in time upon entering the venue. The way he moves between romantic, tender and understated delivery and a powerful, soaring falsetto that fills the entire room is incredible. It’s a voice that feels increasingly rare in this day and age. And perhaps most impressive of all, he makes it look so easy. Throughout the night, we dance away to vintage soul and Motown-inspired music, with touches of doo-wop and gospel. Somewhere around the middle of the show, Jalen sends his band backstage to take a breather, giving himself a moment to slow things down. For one song, we get to sit with our feelings and leave the golden days of soul behind for something more intimate. It’s just Jalen, his piano and a spotlight, allowing his voice to shine without distraction. The stripped-back performance of the emotional ‘Love Is Gone’ gives the crowd a moment to catch its breath between all the dancing. At a time when success in the music industry goes hand in hand with creating viral TikTok moments and short, catchy music designed to please the algorithm, it’s refreshing to see an artist like Jalen playing to a sold-out crowd of fans who aren’t there to film memorable moments of the show for their followers. Don’t get us wrong, we do exactly that ourselves and often feel the pressure to record all our favorite moments. It’s simply the times we’ve grown accustomed to living in. But when Jalen and his band give us a reason to leave our phones in our pockets and truly enjoy the music and the incredible musicians on stage, the result is a raw, real experience that’s becoming hard to find these days. We loved every single moment of the show. Hearing the instant classic ‘Anyone in Love’, the cheesy and desperately-in-love ‘Mr. Train Conductor’ and his biggest breakthrough moment to date, ‘If You Don’t Want My Love’, is a true blessing to the ears. Jalen Ngonda is a one-of-a-kind talent, bringing the spirit of Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and James Brown to a new generation. If this is what timeless soul sounds like in 2026, we’re more than happy to stay in the past a little longer.
Four studio albums, six Grammy nominations, 32 Billboard Hot 100 entries, including five Top 10 hits and collaborations with some of today’s biggest artists, such as Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, SZA and Tate McRae. This sounds like the impressive résumé of someone who has been in the music industry for ages. It is, however, the career summary of the just 28-year-old Khalid. The R&B singer is ten years into his career, but with his brand-new sound and freshly found confidence, it feels like he is only getting started. Before we jump to the main event of the evening, we have to give a shout-out to Jae Stephens, who is supporting Khalid on tour. The L.A.-based singer recently released her major-label debut album AUDACITY and is ready to show Berlin exactly what pop music in 2026 looks like. She warms up the crowd with perfectly executed choreography and big bubblegum pop songs infused with R&B influences. Think of what a top-of-the-class student in the school of Beyoncé and Britney would look like putting on their graduation show. She is the perfect choice to get the crowd ready for the main act of the night. Berlin’s Uber Eats Music Hall is ready for Khalid to enter the stage. First and foremost, the singer wants to remind his fans that he has an incredibly warm, mellow, slightly raspy and effortlessly soulful voice. We know he pulls it off on his recorded music, but right from the start, he lets us know that he can deliver the same, if not even better, vocals in a live setting. His sweet-like-honey voice smoothly fills the venue as he opens with an almost acoustic version of ‘Motion’ before diving straight into one of our favorite tracks, ‘Better’. As he waves at fans throughout the crowd with a bright smile on his face, the lyrics “Nothing feels better than this” feel absolutely believable. The It’s Always Summer Somewhere Tour follows the release of his fourth studio album, after the sun goes down, in 2025. We are massive fans of the album. Khalid gave us a masterclass in turning a situation outside of his control, if you know, you know, into an opportunity to reinvent himself and own his story. On the album, he introduces us to a newfound confidence and energy, truly shining as his most authentic self. Working alongside iconic producers such as Darkchild, Ilya and BloodPop, he enters a new era that feels bright, unapologetic and like the perfect meeting point between pop and R&B. As massive fans of his latest album, we were secretly hoping it would get more room to shine during the concert. Unfortunately, the after the sun goes down moments feel a little rushed, with shortened versions of several tracks leaving us wanting more. We understand that putting together a setlist with such an extensive catalogue must be a challenge, but we would have loved to see Khalid spend more time owning this new era. Seeing him perform songs like ‘out of my body’, ‘in plain sight’ and our favorite, ‘please don’t call (333)’, show us just how much more there is to him than the smooth R&B sound he first became known for. He can bust a move, nail the choreography and deliver big pop vocals. With a catalogue as extensive as Khalid’s, putting together a setlist must be an almost impossible task. Still, with the show sitting comfortably at around 75 minutes, we would have happily stayed for another 15. We missed personal favorites such as ‘Eleven’, ‘MIA’ and ‘Personal’, alongside fan favorites like ‘Know Your Worth’, ‘Shot Down’ and, of course, the massive ‘Eastside’. We will never understand why we didn’t get the latter, but hey, let’s move on to all the great live renditions we did get. Hearing ‘Location’ live for the first time is an absolute blast. We have been fans of Khalid ever since he released this debut single back in 2016. For some reason, we have never had the opportunity to see him perform live, so hearing it a whole decade later feels like an absolute dream come true. The singer also shows his Berlin fans that he can perfectly hold his own on the Normani collaboration ‘Love Lies’, another one of our favourite moments of the evening. Our highlight, however, has to be the incredible, Grammy-nominated Disclosure collaboration ‘Talk’. A massive tune like this easily blows the roof off the venue, especially when paired with vocals this powerful. What a moment. We might not have gotten every moment we hoped for, but there is no doubt that we were treated to a great show packed with hits and sweet-like-honey vocals. Khalid looks like he is having an absolute blast performing and makes a genuine effort to connect with his fans. That smile of his lights up a room just as much as the music does.
After more than a decade away from German stages, Jill Scott finally returned to Berlin, bringing her celebrated To Whom This May Concern live show to Tempodrom as part of her first major European tour in years. Her long-awaited European comeback feels like a celebration in itself. The tour comes after the release of her sixth studio album of the same name earlier this year. We are gearing up for an evening celebrating her legendary discography, throwbacks to her most celebrated songs and, of course, brand new music. Despite the decision to fill the venue with seats, even in the areas that would normally accommodate a standing crowd, the audience had little interest in remaining seated. The moment Jill Scott stepped onto the stage, the entire room rose to welcome the legendary singer. Whatever the reason behind the unusual seating arrangement was, her music had other plans. From that moment on, it kept us on our feet all night long. The singer shares the stage with an impressive big band and a trio of backing vocalists called the Freeman. You’d expect the show to start with a bang, but Jill decides to let just one instrument take the lead and honour of welcoming us to the show: her voice. It’s quite unheard of to kick off a show fully a cappella, letting nothing else fill the room but one powerful voice. The song of choice? ‘Be Great’ sets the tone for the evening. She lets us know she is here not only to celebrate her music, but also to show us that she is one of the greatest in her genre. Perhaps the most powerful tribute to Black excellence comes during ‘Offadaback’, a song built around Jill Scott’s gratitude towards the ancestors and pioneers who paved the way for her. As she sings of the people whose shoulders she stands on, the stage is transformed by a moving compilation of photographs and footage celebrating generations of Black artists, activists and cultural icons. What could have been a simple visual accompaniment instead becomes a deeply emotional reminder that Scott’s own legacy is part of a much larger one. For a woman who has spent more than two decades shaping the sound and language of contemporary R&B, watching her honour those who came before her feels like witnessing one generation pass the torch to another. Another reminder Jill wants to pass on to her fans tonight is where she is from. She unapologetically delivers ‘Norf Side’ in full attitude. The track serves as a hometown anthem filled with rap bars celebrating the energy, resilience and culture of her North Philadelphia roots. On the studio version of the song, she is accompanied by Tierra Whack, but tonight she shows us she is perfectly capable of delivering the same energy all by herself. In between songs, Jill Scott takes the time to speak to her fans. Her charming stories and effortless banter become perfect little interludes, often setting the scene for whatever song is about to follow. It is also a reminder of where it all began. As a spoken-word poet, Scott has always had a natural gift for storytelling, and she knows exactly how to hold an audience with nothing but her words. And then there is her humour. Effortlessly funny and wonderfully expressive, she has the entire room laughing between songs, offering a glimpse of the comedic talent that has also taken her beyond music and into acting. In those moments, the music may have stopped, but Jill Scott is still very much performing. Our absolute highlight of the evening comes when she brings her hit ‘He Loves Me’ to life. Her vocal range shines brightest during the performance, as she takes it to places we didn’t even know were humanly possible. She goes from her highest register to her lowest and makes it all seem easy. The song itself has this beautiful, haunting feeling to it, but witnessing it live is stunningly mesmerizing. The moment Jill decides to point the microphone towards the audience to take on the “la-la-la-la-la-la-la” part of the song lifts it to a whole other level. Hearing each and every fan sing in harmony, what a dream. The show can only come to an end with her biggest hit to date. The moment the first beat of ‘Golden’ is played by her band, the crowd gears up to have one massive dance one last time, celebrating the legend that is Miss Jill Scott. Seeing her perform the song makes it clear that she didn’t make a comeback after more than ten years because she had to. She simply wanted to. She lives and breathes music, and she clearly loves putting on a show filled with spectacle and live music. You know when you leave a live show with the feeling that you’ve just witnessed history? This is exactly how we left feeling after this evening.
We lost count of the number of talent shows we currently have around the world. When Netflix first announced that they were also jumping on the bandwagon, we were slightly surprised. Do we really need more talent shows? The answer turned out to be yes. And looking back at it, it makes sense. Unlike the other talent shows, Netflix has a worldwide audience with fans tuning in to see their favorite new act being formed. As a result, we now have successful bands such as KATSEYE dominating the charts. Next in line to dominate the world? Soulidified. The boyband’s adventure started on the successful show Building the Band, where they placed third in the competition. Bradley Rittmann, Shade Jenifer, Malik Heard and Landon Boyce connected with each other and formed the band, initially called Iconyx. After some doubts about the name, the judges asked them to change it, only for them to land on the equally questionable name Soulidified. While we’re not sure about the band’s name, there is no doubt about their chemistry and talent. Fresh off signing a record deal with Atlantic Records, the boyband is already touring the world with sold-out shows. This tour comes before they have even released a debut album, which goes to show just how loyal a fanbase they have built since competing on the 2024 hit show. Tonight, the sold-out Privatclub in Berlin is filled with fans singing each and every word back to the band, completing the picture of what a traditional boyband should look like. This tour stop is extra special for Bradley. The German-American band member was born in Düsseldorf and has the opportunity to connect with his German fans in his own language. The night kicks off with the band’s most recent release, ‘What’s Your Name’. The foursome enter the stage with infectious energy and excitement, complete with a loud, screaming fanbase. For a moment, we feel like we’re in the seat of Kelly Rowland, Nicole Scherzinger and Liam Payne as we get to watch the talented men give it their all. We are, however, not here to judge them but to enjoy a show and finally get to hear their insane vocals in a live setting. As the band hasn’t released a full-length studio album yet, it comes as no surprise that they sing some of their most loved covers from the competition. Hearing them sing Usher’s ‘U Remind Me’ and Miguel’s ‘Sure Thing’ confirms why these performances received standing ovations during their Building the Band days. For the performance of their debut single ‘One & Only’, the band gets their biggest fan in the crowd on stage. She gets to take a seat on the chair as the band members serenade her with their beautiful, pitch-perfect voices. We love how comfortable and confident she is on stage, singing back every word and almost becoming a fifth member of the band. Shade tells the crowd how special it is to perform the song live, and hearing their fans be at their loudest for this song time and time again makes it clear just how much it means to them. The four talented men are currently busy in the studio recording new music. Tonight, we are the lucky ones getting an exclusive first listen to their brand new material. Based on songs such as ‘Perfect Duet’, ‘God Did His Thing’ and the catchy ‘Audacity’, we are in for an absolute treat. The show ends with their upcoming October 2 release, ‘Man Ain’t Me’. And trust us when we say you will be in for a treat this Friday. Expect a perfect blend of R&B and pop music, a chorus that will be stuck in your mind all day and, of course, heavenly vocals as per usual. There is currently no boyband out here reviving that iconic ’90s boyband sound quite like Soulidified. They bring the iconic live vocals, heavenly vocal runs, typical dance moves and music that feels familiar and nostalgic. They truly are bringing back the sound we’ve been missing in the best way possible. With their brand new record deal and new music on the way, the future looks bright for the boyband.
There’s something unmistakably Brazilian running through Leo Middea’s music. Born in Rio de Janeiro, the troubadour, guitarist and songwriter has been making music for as long as he can remember, weaving the colors, rhythms, contrasts and energy of his home country into every song. Leo Middea’s latest album Notícias de Puglia was featured in our Seven Albums To Be Your Summer Soundtrack feature. The album is packed with drums and rhythm, that euphoric feeling of carnival and kissing someone for the first time, and that undeniable pulse of home for Leo. It only makes sense that tonight, on the official last summer day of the year, he is bringing these songs to life in Berlin. There’s something almost magical about hearing Leo Middea’s Brazilian rhythms fill the historic ballroom of Heimathafen Neukölln. Originally built in the 1870s as a salon and ballroom in Rixdorf, the ornate venue has spent the past 150 years transforming from a local entertainment hall to a theatre, cinema and cultural space. Tonight, its old walls are given another chapter as congas, guitars and Brazilian rhythms take over the room. It’s crowded tonight on stage at Heimathafen. Leo Middea enters with a band of five members. Each musician is dressed with a big smile, immediately giving the crowd that warm feeling of familiarity. The show opens with a big bang as we dive right into ‘Fio de Bronze’. No support act warming up the crowd, no upfront warning. From the very first minute, each and every visitor is asked to sing along to the song. The Portuguese-speaking fans take the lead, and the other half of the crowd happily join in for the easy parts. The night is off to a great start. The live instrumentation is incredible. The keyboard is going, the trumpets are strong, the bass is electrifying and a traditional drum kit is joined by a set of hand-played congas, bringing an infectious rhythmic energy to the performance. Leo himself takes part in the band with his guitar. It’s his warm and crystal-clear voice, however, that hypnotizes the crowd. It’s easy for him to sweep the audience away. Let’s be honest, a smile like that is stealing the show! His one and only English song on the album has a background story. Leo introduces the song by explaining in detail how it came to life. One of his friends told him he should really record an English song. He is traveling the world with his tour, so he should give his non-Portuguese-speaking fans something to sing along to as well. The singer agreed, but quickly found himself in a writer’s block. Until one evening, when he spent about five hours in a bar back home in Rio de Janeiro. Drinking beer with friends, he noticed three people passionately kissing each other throughout the whole night. This ultimately became the inspiration for ‘More Than Two’. The absolute highlight of the evening is when the opening track to his latest album is brought to life. ‘Atabaque’ has the band jumping around on stage, ensuring everyone in the room is moving along and celebrating the music. To really become one with his fans, Leo and his bass player join the crowd to dance together to the sounds of a Brazilian street festival. If you came to the show feeling worried about whatever you have going on in your life, we’re sure the joy in the room washed it all away during the performance of this song. Leo and his band play for a whopping one hour and 45 minutes, but the night goes by in what feels like five minutes. We are having so much fun. We all dance as one to ‘Verano’ and sing in harmony to ‘Sulamérica’. Whoever said music unites would’ve been proud tonight. Notícias de Puglia was clearly made with the intention of being played live, and we loved every second of it.
All of Berlin’s R&B lovers are collectively united in one building tonight. Huxleys Neue Welt welcomes 31-year-old singer Ella Mai to its stage for this Friday evening. The UK hitmaker is here to perform songs from her latest release Do You Still Love Me? and, of course, her greatest hits throughout her career. The stage is decorated to mimic the album cover of her latest project. One lounge chair, a tiny table with a phone on it and a fence filled with plants are setting the scene. The show opens with one of our favorites from the latest record. ‘There Goes My Heart’ already proved to be a perfect opener on the album, so it only makes sense that it takes on the same role for the tour. The almost haunting production is the kind of interlude that right off the bat has us wanting more and curious about what’s to come. Following up is the perfect love song ‘100’. Ella reminds us that within a relationship, it’s completely fine to not always be on a fifty-fifty. Sometimes your partner might only feel like a twenty, so you step up to an eighty. Together, you make it a hundred. As she is a traditional R&B artist, some of her music naturally tends to have similar vibes. During the show, it feels like she knows exactly who she is. The few up-tempo songs she has are perfectly placed in the setlist to pick up the energy in between her slower songs. One of the standout moments of the night is ‘One Of These’. For the banger, her two backing singers get on stage and together they form some sort of unbelievably talented R&B band. Their energy and chemistry are off the roof. They almost have you wishing they would actually form a band and get in the studio together. It’s time for her debut album to have a little moment. ‘Shot Clock’ in this live setting almost feels like a rock song. The guitar-heavy rendition boosts Ella’s confidence as she sings her heart out. The rockstar energy quickly fades away as she exchanges it for the most intimate moment of the night. It’s time to strip things down and take it all the way back to 2017 for an acoustic version of ‘Naked’. On top of a high chair with the spotlight shining on her, she has the whole crowd singing along to each word of the singer-songwriter’s hit. Surprisingly enough, it’s during this intimate moment that the crowd is at its loudest. Ella’s biggest hits are hidden at the back of the setlist. Her Grammy-winning smash hit ‘Boo’d Up’ sounds fresh as if it was released yesterday. Hearing her sing it live proves how insanely timeless the song is. It was so ahead of its time that it stands the test of time. Eight years later and it still hits hard. It won’t come as a surprise that ‘Trip’, the other hit with the same ingredients, has the same trick up its sleeve. We love seeing the singer in her element. Dressed in a beautiful beige piece and bare makeup, truly looking like a natural beauty. No heavy choreography. Just her incredible voice and good, traditional music is all that’s needed. We can’t believe we finally get to hear one of our favorite songs released in the past few years live. ‘Little Things’ first appeared on her EP 3 and, thanks to its success, made it to the Do You Still Love Me? album as well. It somehow ended up kind of serving as the lead single of it, without any intention. It really is an R&B love song at its very best. It’s simple, relatable and the melody is insane. What a way to close the show.
Rarely have we seen someone run onto a stage with the amount of enthusiasm and energy as tonight. Rachel Chinouriri is playing the last show of her current tour right here with us in Berlin. And what a blessing it is to be in the same building as someone bringing a burst of excitement like this. Tonight is off to a promising start and she hasn’t even started singing yet. We’re in for a night full of her biggest hits, fan favourites and brand new music from her upcoming album I think I spoke too soon. The evening opens with a bang thanks to the lead single of her sophomore album. The live rendition of ‘One song away from crying’ proves what a great song it is. The disco-themed production has Rachel dancing around the stage, persuading everyone in the audience to dance and sing along to the catchy track. To complete the picture, a disco ball shines dozens of moving lights that sweep across the room. With her second studio album set to be released next month, we’re in for a treat. We get exclusive access to be some of the first fans to hear the brand new music before it’s available for streaming. The album is set to be packed with up-tempo bangers. Among them is the incredibly catchy ‘Aah’. The song instantly transports us back in time to the days when VV Brown was dominating our playlists. The Brit indie singer must’ve been an inspiration behind this upbeat indie-pop song. Compliments only, we can’t wait to add this one to our playlist and let it become our new obsession. Time to visit her debut album What A Devastating Turn of Events. On ‘It Is What It Is’, she showcases her talk-singing style throughout the song. We love how conversational the performance feels with the audience. Rachel locks eyes with her fans in the front row as she spits out words of truth. Once again, the song fully comes to life thanks to her energetic rendition. The studio version should almost be ashamed of itself compared to the pitch-perfect live version we’re hearing tonight. Our cheeks are hurting from having such a big smile on our faces. Time to replace that smile with tears in our eyes thanks to the beautiful ‘So My Darling’. Throughout the evening, Rachel has shown how high her voice can go and the unlimited places it can reach. For the acoustic rendition of this one, she showcases a different side of her voice. She keeps it calm and collected, singing the emotional song in her lower register. We love how controlled, yet fragile she sounds. The audience is clearly loving every second as we turn to absolute silence in the room. There is no time to stay in our feelings, we need to get back to the good vibes. ‘Can we talk about Isaac?’ ensures the room lights up and is back to full energy, right in time to gear the audience up for two unreleased songs. First up, we get a disco-inspired song that could easily fool you if Rachel didn’t explain what it was about upfront. The song sounds happy, but underneath it all are some sad lyrics about family trauma. Next up, we get the absolute banger ‘Pretty Girls’. The drum-heavy, up-tempo song explodes from the stage and is yet another one that has us wishing the album was already available online. The night would obviously not be complete without her most-streamed song to date. The perfect indie-pop ‘All I Ever Asked’ sounds even better with the live band performing it. We love how Rachel consistently delivers at 100% from start to finish. There is not a moment where you catch her without the biggest smile on her face, and the same goes for us in the audience. We completely get why artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Sombr and PinkPantheress are raving about her talent. We’re counting the days until October 16th and hoping for another tour to accompany the release of I think I spoke too soon.
The road to any recognition within the music industry can be a very long one. Some artists release music for years before receiving any nominations for their outstanding work. Scottish singer Jacob Alon learned piano and guitar as a child and initially developed their songwriting privately before beginning to release music. Their sound earned recognition and they quickly became part of Edinburgh’s folk scene. It all started when they finally got into the studio to record their music in 2024. Following in the footsteps of some of the greatest names in today’s music such as Adele, Florence + the Machine and James Bay, they won the BRITs Critics’ Choice 2026 award for their talent. A huge deal after just two years of releasing music, to receive recognition like that. What’s particularly striking is that this has happened without them making commercial pop music. Their songs are quiet, vulnerable and rooted in folk traditions, yet they’ve managed to attract an extraordinary amount of industry recognition. You’d think that winning the BRITs Critics’ Choice 2026 alone would’ve been enough, but besides this they went on to take home the BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year 2025, becoming the first Scottish artist to do so, as well as the Rolling Stone UK Play Next Award 2025 and a Mercury Prize 2025 nomination for their debut album In Limerence. Tonight Jacob is making their tour stop in Berlin and, with a lead-up like this, the expectations are high. Jacob’s unusually soaring and delicate vocal, paired with their intimate, atmospheric indie folk, deserves a special location to be heard. For their Berlin tour stop, they are playing in the Passionskirche, a beautiful small church. The location itself right away sets the mood for the singer to take the audience into their world. Their show is centred around finger-picked guitar and beautiful piano music. From the moment they sing the very first word, it becomes clear there is an outstanding talent standing in front of us. Their voice is undeniable and reaches places that truly sound angelic. It’s easy to be mesmerised by the live set and feel as if you are at the doorstep of heaven. This feeling, however, sadly doesn’t last forever. Throughout the show, the musicality stays pretty much the same. The slow tempo, the high soaring falsetto in their voice, the deep songwriting and the overall vibe. We know what they are famous for and it’s exactly why we’re here. Yet, we were hoping for a bit more diversity. Hoping for a few moments that take us off guard, to ‘wake us up’ and put a smile on our face. We see the talent and couldn’t agree more that all their prizes and nominations are well deserved. At the same time, we left wishing there had been a little more variation throughout the set. By the end, we found ourselves struggling to pick out that one song that stayed stuck in our heads on the way home. We hope Jacob Alon finds that sweet spot between their extraordinary talent for writing intimate music and, here and there, gives their audience a little wake-up call to bring some positive energy into the room. Because when you already have a voice and songwriting talent this special, we can’t wait to see what happens when they start showing us even more sides of it.
When Steve Lacey shouts you out on his profile, you know you made one hell of an album. The singer, who’s busy promoting his own project Oh yeah?, took the time to promote Love Spells, his debut album. ‘Beautiful album. Beautiful voice. Yes yes yes.’ We couldn’t agree more! Tonight, we attend the Love Is The Law World Tour, and the excitement to hear how his music translates into a live setting is off the roof. It’s the very first time Love Spells is visiting Berlin. And the first visit is off to a good start. He is here to play a sold-out show at Kantine am Berghain. His fans have come together to sing along to their favorite songs from the debut album Love Is The Law and, of course, all the music that came before the arrival of this excellent body of work. The stage welcomes a band of three and, of course, the star of the show. Right off the bat, it’s clear the chemistry between the musicians is undeniable. The foursome are here to have a great gig. His music is full of romance and love-themed songs. Each one explores desire, devotion, obsession, heartbreak and surrender. This theme runs through the production of the album, the songwriting and, of course, his beautiful falsetto voice. In a recent interview, the singer revealed he started singing like this because he wanted to sound like a female artist. He wanted to sound delicate and soft, almost as if he were singing a lullaby. This comes through perfectly in his recorded music. In the live setting, however, it tends to get a little more rock ’n’ roll. The night is anything but a live rendition of lullabies. Quite the opposite, it’s a wake-up call to everyone who had been sleeping on Love Spells during the start of his career. He blasts out one song after another with full energy, largely thanks to his equally energetic band. It’s songs like ‘Heart For Eyes’ and ‘Don’t Touch’ that have the whole crowd two-stepping away while the singer and his band are dancing like there is no tomorrow. Expect a shirtless Love Spells laying on the floor, jumping up and down, guitar riffing and even a run into the crowd to dance with his fans. We keep it soft and tender in all the right places of the show. Our favorite songs sound more beautiful than ever in the live setting. Love Spells gets at his sexiest and most romantic for ‘Kiss Me Slow This Time’. While he sings his heart out, we slowly melt away on the floor. Two highlights during the evening go to ‘Crutch’ and ‘Keep It To Yourself’. Both are pure perfection on the album, and hearing them live for the very first time has us falling even more in love. Having Love Spells on a small stage right here in Berlin confirms one thing: the stage he and his band are performing on will only grow bigger and bigger in the years to come. His signature high falsetto is already such a distinctive part of his sound, but imagine the possibilities when he starts exploring every side of his voice, from high to low. There is something incredibly exciting about an artist who already has such a unique identity while still having so much room to grow. Love Spells is only getting started.
What was built in 1936 to host the Summer Olympics has grown into the home of some of Berlin’s most iconic events. Of course, it lends itself perfectly to major sporting occasions, but it has become so much more than that. Legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones, Metallica and Beyoncé have all transformed the stadium into their own musical spectacle. It is no wonder that Lollapalooza moved its festival to the historic Olympiastadion in 2018. A legendary festival needs an equally legendary playground. Over the years, the festival has welcomed some of the biggest names in music to perform within its striking architecture. With artists such as Justin Timberlake, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa and The XX already in its archive, Lollapalooza Berlin 2026 had the seemingly impossible task of living up to yet another unforgettable line-up. Saturday is off to a glorious start. Sun rays decorate the sports stadium turned festival ground, bald caps and hibiscus flowers are spotted everywhere, and Berlin residents jump into the Olympia pool as if it were any regular summer weekend. There is no turning back now: the biggest festival in Berlin is officially underway, and we could not be more ready. Saturday - Sunny discoveries, brutal honesty and a never-ending pop spectacle As if the temperatures are not hot enough already, Young Miko brings Puerto Rican heat to Germany. The tattoo artist turned rapper gives everyone in the crowd a much-needed confidence boost. The way the ‘WASSUP’ hitmaker commands the stage is undeniable. Without even trying, she takes on the role of warming up the audience for everything still to come. Her laid-back, cool take on reggaeton is exactly what sets her apart from others in the genre. Everything is in check: her energy, stage presence and charming eye contact with fans all match the music effortlessly. We have to compliment whoever is responsible for the festival booking. One international act follows another, and it feels as though every corner of the world is represented. From Puerto Rico, we travel to Argentina with indie-rock band Usted Señalemelo. The trio were unknown to us before this weekend, and we could not be happier to have stumbled upon them at the New Horizon stage. Expect upbeat, energetic indie-rock songs layered with brilliant vocals from frontman Juan Saieg. Argentina may have taken a loss at the FIFA World Cup, but with this performance, the Argentinian band certainly won the hearts of many festival goers. Berlin-born and raised DJ LOVEFOXY had a busy weekend. She was not only playing one, but two of Berlin’s most iconic festivals, both taking place on the very same weekend. The advantage of being an artist is that you get to experience a glimpse of both worlds. If Whole Festival received even a small dose of the energy she brought to Lollapalooza, they were in for a treat. Pumped up by the good vibes from her set, we made our way to the main stage where Lily Allen was set to perform her West End Girl show. Since this performance deserves a review of its own, you can read all about it in our separate concert review. The crowd is divided into two groups: fans in suits and bald caps, and fans in hibiscus flowers, glittery make-up and sun-soaked outfits. There is no question that Pitbull and Zara Larsson are headlining today. No matter what the weather forecast says, the sun is going to shine anyway. Summer is not determined by the actual weather; it comes from within. It is a state of mind. And who better than the queen of summer herself to amplify that feeling? The stage becomes a never-ending ‘Midnight Sun’ as Zara sings her heart out. Anyone who has seen her live before knows exactly what is coming: one of the most energetic and joyful pop spectacles Berlin could possibly ask for. Since we last saw Zara perform her Midnight Sun Tour, she has released new music that we finally get to hear live. Her collaborations with Tyla, ‘SHE DID IT AGAIN’, and PinkPantheress, ‘Stateside’, fit perfectly into the dreamy setlist. Our favourite moment of the night has to be ‘Pretty Ugly’. There is something about that chanting chorus that never gets old when performed in front of thousands of fans screaming along. We love how Zara is not afraid to remind everyone that ‘Midnight Sun’ is one of the best pop songs released in a very long time. She does not only open the show with it, she also closes the set with it. For the finale, we begin with an acoustic arrangement that showcases those unbelievable live vocals before dancing the night away. Sunday - Shaking ass in the rain, surprise after surprise and smooth funky jazz Sunday is packed with surprises from the very beginning. We have heard many critics praise Self Esteem’s latest album A Complicated Woman. We, however, had not yet had the chance to fully dive into her world. And boy, oh boy, have we been missing out. Together with seven dancers who also take on the role of background singers, she steps onto the stage to show Berlin exactly how it is done. It has been a long time since we have seen such a talented group of people have this much fun on stage. The infectious energy sets the perfect tone for the day ahead. Self Esteem, consider us fans from now on. Even though the line-up is packed with stars dominating charts across the world, the loudest fans are found at Sofia Camara’s show. Her setlist, filled with sweet pop power ballads, becomes the backdrop for fans screaming their lungs out. At times, it even seems as though the Canadian singer herself is overwhelmed by the love coming her way. While she takes the crown for the loudest crowd, Anitta wins the title for the most dancers in the audience. The sun makes way for rain, refreshing the Olympiastadion. Luckily, the timing for the rain could not have been better. With Anitta up next, the temperatures remain high regardless. The singer is here to represent her culture in the best way possible. Brazilian fans take over the crowd, ready to move their hips to her biggest hits. The set is packed with huge tunes, energetic dancers, pouring rain and a Brazilian dance-off. Anitta cannot be stopped by the weather. She even leaves the stage to walk into the rain and get closer to her fans. This woman truly knows how to put on a show. At times, walking around the festival grounds feels as though you have stepped into a giant fairground. The biggest brands have made their way to Lollapalooza to promote their products, leading to endless queues everywhere you look. It is overwhelming to see so many visitors willing to miss out on incredible music for the chance to win free branded merchandise. The Johnnie Walker stage, however, manages to stay true to what Lollapalooza is meant to be about: great musical moments. Dance crews, singers and rappers bring the good vibes all day long. Kelvyn Colt is the most pleasant surprise of the day. The German rapper, currently based in Los Angeles, mesmerises the crowd with his unmistakable talent and has everyone jumping up and down, chanting every word. It would not be a perfect Sunday without some smooth, jazzy music. Thankfully, singer Don West has packed his bags and travelled from Australia to Germany to perform songs from his latest album Give Me All Your Love. For a moment, we feared the talented singer would be performing to an empty crowd, as he was scheduled at the same time as Lorde. But as soon as the show begins, the space fills within minutes. His charming stage presence and smooth voice make it impossible not to stop and enjoy the performance in full. He serenades the crowd with funky hits such as ‘Send It Back’ and ‘Small Change’. Lollapalooza Berlin 2026 was one for the books. Fans will be talking about it for years to come. If you, like us, are already looking forward to the 2027 edition, you are in luck: the festival has already announced next year’s dates, and tickets are already on sale. So, who are we seeing on 17 and 18 July 2027? Zara Larsson photo by Robin Mayer (@goodguypaez) Self Esteem photo by spndlr media (@spndlr.media)
This weekend Clean was at Lollapalooza Berlin. We like to invite you to the festival grounds through our analogue photos. No overly polished, glossy festival photos. No heavy editing, no perfectly staged shots. Just raw, beautiful captures of real moments as they happened. The grain, the light leaks and the imperfections are inviting you to step into the festival with us and experience Lollapalooza through our eyes.
It’s October 2025 and everything seems perfectly normal. Little do we know that Lily Allen is about to release a life-changing album. A comeback that will go down in pop music history books, cementing October 24th, 2025 as a day to never forget. Her album West End Girl feels like listening to a diary read out loud over beautifully curated production and carefully selected samples here and there. A project that truly needs to be enjoyed front to back; pressing the shuffle button just won’t be appropriate. This right away raises the question of how the album should be experienced live. Lily Allen is clearly at a point in her career where she can do whatever works for her and her art. She has been an industry puppet before and is clearly over it. After the experiences in her personal life, it only makes sense that she is now taking full control over her life, including taking the reins in her career. Naturally, this led to the decision of rewriting the books on what a world tour around an album release can be. The singer made a decision that, just like the album itself, will go down in history and be studied in the years to come. West End Girl is played in its full glory, front to back, in a theatre setup. If you are here for the big hits such as ‘Smile’, ‘The Fear’ and ‘Not Fair’, well… turn around. This is not your ordinary concert where hits from the past and songs from the new album meet in the setlist. This setlist was a no-brainer: we start at the beginning of the album, follow the tracklist to the final song, and that’s it. It must be beautiful to have an album that is so strong in its message and theme that it makes it possible to do a world tour in this way. A way that truly hasn’t been done before. Lily Allen Performs West End Girl should not be perceived as a concert, but rather as a musical or theatre play. Obviously due to its setup, but more so for the storytelling through the music. The fact that this also means we stay within the one-hour mark for the show duration makes it perfect to bring to festival season. Which brings us fast forward to today. Berlin is in luck this weekend, and we have Lollapalooza to thank for it. The festival did a remarkable job booking the show for this weekend. Among a killer line-up filled with stars such as Zara Larsson, Lorde and Don West, we get the chance to experience the West End Girl show on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the Olympiastadion, right here in Berlin. We feel lucky to be able to witness the show that everyone has been talking about ever since the first tour stop. Lily Allen enters the stage and leaves no time to waste. The music starts playing, she smiles at us, doesn’t say a word to the crowd, but rather starts singing from the get-go. Unusual, but we live for it. When the music speaks for itself, there is no need to stop it to talk with the audience. The show is painful to watch in the sense that we are here as a crowd cheering her on, applauding after each song, while she is up there reliving some of the most painful times in her life. The show is a gentle reminder of her acting career, as she clearly treats it as a theatre piece. In the instrumental moments, she expresses the pain she went through. She might not say a word to us, but her cheeky, charismatic laughs and smiles in between say it all: she loves being here and is proud to show us her undeniable talent as a performer. We would love to tell you all about the fun bits and the surprising attributes entering the stage, but we won’t. More so, we urge you to grab any opportunity to go and witness it yourself. This is a show that you simply can’t miss out on. We would go as far as saying you should even see it if you don’t like Lily Allen at all, but are simply a music fanatic. This show will open your eyes to how a world tour can look. The ways it could be if we dare to think outside of the box. We can’t applaud the ‘Pussy Palace’ hitmaker enough for taking the lead in changing the traditions around touring. This is the start of a new era for live music.
In 2015, publisher and graphic artist Franco Maria Ricci brought his lifelong vision to life by creating a seven-hectare park featuring a labyrinth made up of more than 200,000 bamboo plants. This extraordinary location in Fontanellato, just outside Parma, has become the home of LOST Music Festival. The festival brings together artists from all over the world and across a wide range of genres. Despite their different musical backgrounds, they all share one thing in common: bringing the mystical, esoteric and unknown spirit of this remarkable space to life through sound. From live bands pouring raw emotion into their performance to DJ sets flirting with the sunbeams filtering through the bamboo, and from delicate harp melodies to immersive ambient soundscapes drifting through nature, every performance feels perfectly at home in the labyrinth. LOST Music Festival is unlike any other. Not only because of its carefully curated line-up, but because of the way that line-up is experienced. With four stages hidden throughout the labyrinth and only one hosting performances at any given moment, the festival takes visitors on a carefully orchestrated journey. Together, everyone moves from stage to stage, letting LOST decide when it is time to dance, when to slow down and reconnect with nature, and when to stand still as live music stirs something deeper. Clean was there to experience it all, documenting the festival entirely on analogue film. No filters, no heavy editing and no perfectly polished images. Just raw, honest moments that capture the atmosphere exactly as we experienced it, inviting you to step inside the labyrinth and get lost with us.
Parco Musica Milano has assembled one of the most impressive summer concert line-ups in Italy this year, transforming Parco Lanini into a destination for music fans across the country. Tonight marks one of its most anticipated events: Halsey’s long-awaited return to Italy. Seven years have passed since the singer last performed a headline show here and fans could not be more eager. A sense of anticipation hangs over the park as thousands gather to finally experience songs from across her catalogue live once again. The stage is decorated with medieval-inspired set pieces and the screens announce the start of the show The Girl in the Tower: A Ceremony by Halsey. As soon as the band begins playing, it becomes clear that we are in for an energetic rock show. Halsey enters the stage with ‘I am not a woman, I’m a god’, immediately setting the tone for the evening. We remain in the If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power era as she moves into ‘Nightmare’. Anyone expecting the sweet pop star who once scored major hits alongside The Chainsmokers and Marshmello is in for a surprise. There is no easing into the rockstar Halsey has become. Together with her band, she injects an unmatched intensity into the live version of the song. Hearing the crowd sing along to every word is a reminder of just how much she has been missed in Italy. It is easy to forget that Halsey once dominated charts around the world as a mainstream pop star. Those unfamiliar with her catalogue might think she made a sudden turn towards rock music, but tonight she reminds everyone that she has always had a rockstar spirit, even before her glossiest pop hits took over the world. Hearing ‘Castle’ from her debut album BADLANDS proves exactly that as she scream-sings her way through the track. The lights dim and Halsey reappears on stage wearing a leash. Real fans instantly know what time it is. She seductively performs one of her newer songs, ‘Dog Years’, climbing the towering staircase that dominates the stage design. Locked into the performance, she stares deep into the crowd while singing: “I’ve been such a good girl, can we go for a ride? I’m on a real short leash, but I like it tight. You know, I’m such a sweet girl, but I can really bite.” It would not be a rock show without a circle pit. During ‘Experiment On Me’, the crowd is tasked with creating a massive circle in the middle of the park. It appears to be a first for many attendees, as the attempt quickly turns into chaos. Several circles open simultaneously and people begin running before Halsey has even given the signal. Laughing, she remarks that there is a first time for everything and appreciates the effort despite the intense summer heat. Touring during Pride Month is exactly why Halsey enjoys festival-style shows so much, and tonight is no exception. Just before performing ‘honey’, a fan throws a lesbian flag onto the stage. It is carefully taped onto the staircase that has served as the centerpiece of the set throughout the evening. Whoever tossed it on stage is going home happy. Moments later, after performing what many consider an unofficial lesbian anthem, Halsey signs the flag and returns it to the crowd. Eventually, it is time to give the audience a breather from the relentless rock and almost nu-metal energy. Halsey picks up an acoustic guitar and slows things down, reminding everyone why her voice works just as well in polished pop music. Performances of ‘3am’, ‘You should be sad’ and ‘Colors’ showcase a softer side of the singer while turning the park into one giant sing-along. Throughout the evening, it becomes increasingly clear just how extensive Halsey’s catalogue has become. Having a full headline show rather than a shortened festival set gives her the freedom to showcase her artistry exactly how she wants. Surprisingly, major hits such as ‘Closer’, ‘Bad At Love’ and ‘Now Or Never’ are absent from the setlist. Her biggest hit, however, is impossible to ignore. ‘Without Me’ receives one of the loudest reactions of the night as not only the dedicated fans but also the more casual attendees sing every word back to her. During the encore, Halsey revisits three different eras of her career. It begins with a stunning vocal performance of ‘Lie’. Hearing the hopeless fountain kingdom track soaring through Parco Lanini at 23:45 feels like one of those moments that could wake up all of Milan. It is one of the evening’s strongest vocal showcases and a reminder of just how versatile she is as a performer. The energy quickly rises again with BADLANDS favourite ‘Gasoline’ before the show closes with ‘Lonely is the Muse’ from her latest album, The Great Impersonator. Once again, Halsey has something to prove, this time that her most recent album deserved far more recognition than it received. Halsey’s long-awaited return to Italy proves well worth the seven-year wait. Over the course of two hours, she delivers a show packed with explosive energy, memorable visual moments and impressive vocals. By welcoming Halsey to its summer concert series, Parco Musica Milano once again demonstrates its ability to bring world-class live music experiences to Italian audiences.