Celebratory and infectious: Alessi Rose excels at Birmingham’s 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.”

She looks incredible. Clad in a lacy top, white skirt, and funky black-and-white socks, it’s the perfect mix between eye-catching enough to stand out from her band, yet relatable and down-to-earth to connect with her audience. In many ways, the outfit reflects the concert itself: a terrific performance full of the kind of stage presence that could easily match any other up-and-coming artist, while remaining intimately connected to the audience, as though this is a private concert for me and the other 3000 people watching (as Rose mentions during the show, it’s her biggest headlining venue to date).

Many of her songs feature Rose striding, dancing, and even crawling across the stage with an infectious energy

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.

The stage is dressed in baroque designs, with a light-up cross at the back. It’s a playful set up, complementing Rose’s aesthetic without overshadowing her. A podium is placed in the centre, surrounded by the band, on which Rose begins her concert, and returns to play many of her songs. That’s not to say that she remains static there, however. Many of her songs feature Rose striding, dancing, and even crawling across the stage with an infectious energy. During one song, she even half-leans, half-reaches into the crowd, creating a connection with her fans that is sure to last a lifetime.

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.

★★★★