Alessi Rose excels at the Birmingham O2 Academy

O2 Academy, Birmingham, 28 November 2025

Silhouetted against a glowing cross, Alessi Rose opens the Voyeur Tour with her single That Could Be Me, a dazzling burst of energy matched only by the enthusiasm of her fans. Its upbeat, pop-rock vibe sets the tone for the rest of her concert: a hyper-authentic look into the love and loss that comes with youth, without a care for who else might be listening. As the bio for Rose’s Spotify page neatly summarises, “If people don’t want me to write songs about them they shouldn’t do bad things.”

Rose’s recent album Voyeur dominates the setlist, with ‘First Original Thought‘, newly released on the deluxe edition, being a particular highlight. The tour’s live band is a welcome addition to the song, adding an auditory weight to the song’s fun, funky 80s bassline. The live instruments provide an emotional feel to the songs that might have been otherwise lost to a backing track, and Rose’s own guitar playing during ‘Stella‘ creates a particularly impressive, yet poignant, moment, reflecting on a lost friendship and the feeling of heartbreak that comes with it.

Rose’s rise to pop fame is not stopping any time soon

It’s not just Rose herself who stands out in concert. Her opener, Déyyess, provided an excellent start to the night, stirring up the crowd with songs from her recent EP Would You Go Down On A Girl? Joyful celebrations of queer love, they act wonderfully to whip up the audience with excitement for the main act. The singer was similarly accompanied by a live band, with her indie/alt-pop style complementing Rose’s music perfectly.

Watching the concert, it is easy to see how Rose has quickly earned a legion of adoring fans. Her relatable music connects with a diverse group, from preteen girls to young adults clamouring for more as the singer takes her final bow. Following on from a year including opening for both Dua Lipa and Tate McRae, and now her second headlining tour in two years, it is clear that Rose’s rise to pop fame is not stopping any time soon.