Live review

Chappell Roan, O2 Academy Brixton, London: One for the history books

20th September 2024

By the time the lights go down on Night Two of her stint at the historic venue, you get the feeling some fans might be ready to combust.

Words: Sarah Jamieson
Photos: Corinne Cumming
26th September 2024

In music, some success stories are rapid - a star being propelled into the cultural atmosphere at breakneck speed - while others come good after meticulous planning, each move along the way considered and crafted. Few, however, seem to have grown and blossomed into life with such organic glee as that of Chappell Roan, 2024’s undeniable breakout star.

In the year since the release of her 2023 debut - the chintzy and glorious ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ - her own rise to prominence has been like no other. It was Chappell’s US stint alongside pop juggernaut Olivia Rodrigo earlier this year that saw her dedicated, cult fan following begin to expand, before a slew of huge festival slots (via a viral TikTok moment or two) really propelled her into public consciousness; her set at Chicago’s Lollapalooza, meanwhile, allegedly drew the biggest daytime crowd the festival has ever seen. It’s a feat that feels entirely justified by her brilliant debut and determined hard work, but equally, one that makes her current UK touring run - which was booked well ahead of the pandemonium that now surrounds her - all the more special.

Playing a run of three sold-out shows at the O2 Academy Brixton would normally be the fodder of dreams for artists on their debut full-length’s tour, but somehow, her run here feels like the smallest of underplays. Fans snake through the streets of Brixton dressed to the nines in the standard pop show regalia (cowboy hats, feather boas, sequinned bodysuits and more) while many ticketless hopefuls wait outside the venue, chancing their luck at grabbing last minute entry. Inside, the venue is ablaze with giddiness: the girls, gays and theys gathered inside are barely able to contain their excitement, the singalongs to tracks pumped out across the venue’s PA are wincingly loud, while a slew of A-listers - including Elton John - have all turned up for the occasion. By the time the lights go down and Chappell and her camo-clad band step out on to the venue’s historic stage, you get the feeling some fans might be ready to combust.

Chappell Roan, O2 Academy Brixton, London

The fervour that meets the opening beats of ‘Femininomenon’ is tremendous, with the crowd matching Chappell’s plea to “play a song with a fucking beat!?” with delirious delight. It’s this same dizzying energy that swirls around the entire show from both performer and audience, heightening that lightning-in-a-bottle feeling that Chappell seems to so embody. Even against the relatively pared-back stage set (compared to most modern pop spectacles, especially), her show is spine-tingingly good, with the singer’s presence and vocals anchoring the entire thing without the need for extra bells and whistles.

A mid-set rendition of the YMCA-ish ‘HOT TO GO!’ sets the room alight with arms-aloft, camp glee, and the lamenting swagger of ‘Casual’ is potent, while tender moments punctuate proceedings - the one-two of ‘Coffee’ and ‘Kaleidoscope’; the penultimate ‘California’ - with a quietly devastating but poignant power. By the time she reaches the twinkly crescendo of closer ‘Pink Pony Club’ and its glitzy metaphor for community and acceptance, there’s barely a dry eye in the house and a sense of freedom and joy in the air that’s so palpable you can almost touch it. An undeniably special night, with an undeniably special performer, this is certainly one for the history books.