Bloom, Baby, Bloom! Wolf Alice Offers An Electric Night at the Beanfield Theatre

It was a gloomy Monday when a line wrapped around the Beanfield Theatre, waiting for Ellie  Rowsell, Joel Amey, Theo Ellis, and Joff Oddie, also known as Wolf Alice, to light up the stage. 

As the first notes of “Thorns” echoed through the room, the crowd’s energy turned electric. Rocking an eighties-inspired striped blue bodysuit, glittery eyeshadow and big black boots, the scene felt reminiscent of an old prom night, with Ellie dancing in front of a shimmery fringe background. Thorns is a clear testament to Wolf Alice’s ability to create a smooth, almost theatrical pop track,  blending lush vocals with punchy instrumentals, a recurring pattern in their new album, The Clearing. The band continued by playing a selection of songs from their older albums, immersing the audience in a blend of shoegaze, rock, and pop- genres they mesh seamlessly to create an atmosphere that’s both gritty and glamorous. 

Under hazy orange lights, the familiar chords of “Bloom, Baby, Bloom”, mesmerized the audience. Ellie’s powerful vocals, intertwined with the band’s jazz and rock-infused instrumentals, made for a performance reminiscent of iconic 1970s magnetic rock and pop sound. Everyone in the room was singing to their friends, dancing without a care; the band obviously knows how to captivate an audience. While Beanfield Theatre hold around a thousand attendees, this performance could have easily electrified much bigger stages.  

Wolf Alice followed with more tracks from their new album; each met with louder cheers from the audience. After a giant disco ball lit up every corner of the room, the band carried the dreamy atmosphere into “How Can I Make it Okay?” and “Safe From Heartbreak (If You Never Fall in Love)”.  For the latter, Ellie invited Chloe on stage, who had eagerly held up a sign asking to sing along. 

The song’s mellow guitar and bass meshed beautifully with Ellie and Chloe’s voices, making it one of the most intimate moments of the night.  

The band continued the night with tracks from various albums. Some highlights include “Yuk Foo” and “Play The Greatest Hits”, both angsty rock songs with hints of punk and shoegaze. As flashing lights and sirens filled the room, Ellie sang through a megaphone, offering a raw performance with a hint of Riot Grrrl energy. After a captivating performance of “The Sofa”, the final track from their new album, the band announced they were done for the night.  

The crowd, however, had other plans. As soon as the band exited the stage, the cheers grew louder than before, nearly shaking the venue. Less than two minutes later, bright lights bathed the stage as the band returned for an encore. It felt like the end of a coming-of-age movie as everyone in the crowd soaked up the last few minutes of music. Wolf Alice ended the show with “Don’t Delete the  Kisses”, which was nothing short of magical. The theatre was painted in a pink tint with bubbles floating around. It was one of those moments you know you’ll miss while you’re still living it. The song’s nostalgic, dreamy essence reduced the world to just the room for a few minutes. What began as a grey evening ended as a glamorous, enchanting, and unforgettable night.