Lizzy McAlpine’s ‘Older Tour’ shows her growth as a performer

O2 Academy, Birmingham, 28 October 2024

It may be a drizzly Monday night in Birmingham, but the O2 Academy is buzzing with energy as Lizzy McAlpine fans, adorned in the unspoken uniform of long-white skirts and black bows, patiently wait for the twenty-five-year-old singer-songwriter to grace the stage.

McAlpine first made a name for herself after the release of her debut album Give Me A Minute in 2020, and since has cultivated an ever-growing dedicated fanbase, recently becoming a viral social media hit with ‘ceilings’ from her sophomore album, five seconds flat, while her third album, Older, has been released to critical acclaim.

The relaxed feel of the gig is emulated through the set design

Even from the first step into the venue, it is clear that we are about to experience a concert like no other. The relaxed feel of the gig is emulated through the set design: the stage is set out to look like a living room, with armchairs and lamps spread out amongst the instruments.

Stepping out to the sound of tweeting birds, McAlpine takes to the stage in a casual jumper and jeans and places on a pair of overhead headphones. The first line of ‘The Elevator’, “It wasn’t slow / it happened fast”, sets the easy tone for the entire concert. While McAlpine sings, fans hold up stars reading “can we stay like this forever?” as part of a fan project

‘Come Down Soon’ seamlessly moves into ‘Movie Star’ as the crowd sings along softly in the background, allowing McAlpine’s vocals to shine at the forefront. Addressing the crowd for the first time, the singer-songwriter exclaims that “it is wild to come all the way across the world and have people show up for you”, clearly amazed by her music’s impact on people across the globe.

Introducing the next song as one that she wrote when she was experiencing “not-so-great feelings” on her last tour, the opening notes of ‘All Falls Down’ begin. As she sings “twenty-five, and a sold-out show”, she is greeted by cheers from the audience, and rightly so.

The intimate living-room concert emphasises that McAlpine has taken back control, and crafted a tour that not only appeals to her but also appeals to her fans

McAlpine has been vocal about how her first experience touring felt out of control and impacted her negatively, consequently cancelling her last tour to prioritise her mental health. The intimate living-room concert emphasises that McAlpine has taken back control, and crafted a tour that not only appeals to her but also appeals to her fans.

Rounding off the medley of songs from her latest album, Older, with ‘Staying’ and ‘I Guess’, McAlpine plays the opening chords to ‘doomsday’, an obvious fan favourite. The crowd sing along to every word; the lyrics “and I would’ve married you / if you’d stuck around” echo around the venue. Evidently, McAlpine is not only prioritising her own health during the Older Tour, as she quietens down the band and stops singing during ‘doomsday’ to help a fan who needs assistance. The fan experience is also paramount to McAlpine.

Returning back to Older for two more songs, ‘Drunk, Running’ and ‘Broken Glass’, McAlpine takes to the piano, demonstrating her versatility as a musician.

The singer-songwriter explains how she sings a different song from one of her greatest musical influences, Joni Mitchell, during each show. For us, she sings ‘The Circle Song’ and the crowd listens along intently.

Moving once again to her own discography, she smoothly changes between ‘Older’, ‘Better Than This’, and a mash-up of ‘March’ and ‘chemtrails’, captivating the audience with every note. After joking that she is on the verge of falling asleep due to eating too much Dishoom, McAlpine announces that we have reached the final three songs of the night, and the first two will be from her recently released deluxe album, Older (and Wiser). The heartfelt lyrics of ‘Soccer Practice’ are just as enchanting as all of the songs that preceded it, while ‘Spring Into Summer’ has everyone in the pit and sitting on the balcony waving their arms side to side.

Now that McAlpine has grown older and found her voice, it is only possible for her to continue going from strength to strength

After we reach the supposed final song of the evening, ‘Vortex’, McAlpine exits the stage, leaving the crowd to chant her name as we patiently await her return.

It is not long before the singer-songwriter is back sitting in the centre of the living room, joined once again by her acoustic guitar. “I have never played this song live with a band before, sorry if it’s boring”, McAlpine explains before strumming the opening chords to ‘Over-The-Ocean Call’ from her debut album. The crowd certainly do not think that the song is boring, swaying along to the melody.

McAlpine rounds up a stunning setlist with ‘Pushing Down and Praying’ before ‘ceilings’, in which the crowd completely takes over the lyrics, ending the concert on a high.

The concert suits the singer-songwriter’s reserved personality perfectly, while additionally expressing the appeal of living room concerts, as they allow the twenty-five-year-old’s voice to shine. Now that McAlpine has grown older and found her voice, it is only possible for her to continue going from strength to strength.

★★★★★