Alana Springsteen Delivers an Unforgettable First UK Headline Show in London
I had seen Alana Springsteen at nearly all of her appearances around the UK thus far – C2C Festival and The Long Road Festival being two highlights in recent months – and thus it was great to see her in a headline slot where she could really do justice to her ability and play all of the songs from her new sophomore album Twenty Something, plus some from an older songs
The setlist would be of great length, and with more room to roam around on stage than the end of a festival day, she would really be able to work the crowd and tell her story in full.
She started with 'Ghost In My Guitar,' and we were hooked from the off. The song's high energy and her performance were matched by the quality of her band.
She worked her way through 'No Man's Land', 'Thinkin' Straight', 'Booked & Busy', 'Don't Deserve You', 'Sad Hour', 'How To Swim', 'Selfish', 'I Loved You Then', 'Love To See It', 'Cowboys & Tequila', 'DIY', 'Goodbye Looks Good' and 'Black Sheep'.
Each song was not just a random selection from her album; each had a story to tell, and Alana was keen to regale us with the tales of how they came to be. She spoke of finding her independence after leaving home for university and how her debut album, 'Twenty Something', was a journey of self-discovery. She spoke of learning to live life on her own terms and how 'White Dress' was a song about chasing your true self.
A really moving part of the night was when the whole band left the stage, and she played the piano alone. This really brought out the emotion in the songs and her vocal delivery, and the crowd was engaged, holding their collective breath in silence (not rare thing with a British crowd we listen!).
She spoke of growing up in a deeply religious family and how songwriting was her way of expressing feelings she was unable to express. She said that she never feels more herself than she does right here on this stage with the audience, and it was a truly heartfelt moment as she went on to play one of the night's most emotional songs.
Another highlight came when Alana welcomed the tour's support act back to the stage for a fantastic duet, with the pair's vocals blending together perfectly.
She also spoke about how she wrote one of the songs to reassure her parents and grandparents that she was okay as she continued to follow her dream, saying that it was okay to have doubts, okay to ask questions, and okay to be curious.
The whole band was incredibly talented. The female lead guitarist, in particular, was another dimension added to Alana's songs. Every musician played their part extremely well, creating a polished yet energetic sound that matched Alana's powerful vocals.
At one point in the evening, London applauded when Alana put on an England shirt from her dressing room to wear for a section of one of the songs. She signed afterward and then tossed it into the crowd.
It was truly an incredible evening that showcased all of the talented musicians on stage and the incredibly strong bond between Alana and her UK fans.
The night culminated with an unexpected closing song that brought out BRELAND on stage. It was the perfect way to round off an incredible show, which saw London fall head over heels in love with the up-and-coming singer-songwriter.
Having followed her from the opening of her UK festival appearances, it was fantastic to see her strut her stuff on the big stage for her first headline tour. Festival appearances have already shown just how impressive an artist Alana is, and this has gone to a whole new level.
The songs, personality, stories behind her music and lyrics all shine just as much as her vocal talent, and she has fully cemented her fan base here with a truly memorable night.
I, for one, can't wait to see what the future holds for this independent young lady and her growing army of fans here in the UK. This was just the beginning of an incredible headline career.
