Teenage Cancer Trust: Wolf Alice @ Royal Albert Hall, London, 29.03.26
- Sam McNaughton
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Indie trailblaizers Wolf Alice play a career defining set in support of teenage cancer care
In 2026 the Teenage Cancer Trust once again heralds the return of their concert series at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall. Since being founded in 2000 by The Who’s Roger Daltrey, the annual performances have helped channel the boundless energy of live music into vital cancer care for young people.
This year was notable as the first outing of guest curator Robert Smith of The Cure, after Daltrey stepped back from the organisational helm while still remaining involved as a patron to the cause. Dubbed as the guest “Cure‑ator”, Smith has assembled a stunning line‑up that helps erase any uncertainty around the change.
Tonight’s performance of London’s own Wolf Alice feels fitting. The band resonate especially strongly with the young people who are at the heart of the evening. Before they took to the stage, a powerful tape played that covered the amazing work done by the Teenage Cancer Trust. The emotion drove even higher as it was followed by a group of young people who had received this support, emerged onto the stage. It was a powerful moment that helped underline just how important the work that led to the evenings concert is.
From the very opening, Wolf Alice delivered an outstanding set that spanned their four albums, delivering fan favourites, deep cuts and debut live outings. Opening with the dream-pop shoegaze of “Heavenward” from “Visions of a Life”, it marked the song's first outing since 2020. Setting the tone for the evening, the band sounded expansive within the regal beauty of the Royal Albert Hall. This theme would carry on through the rest of the set, as the band were ethereal as they played through songs about togetherness and love.
Fan favourites such as “Bros” and “Just Two Girls” were anthemic moments during the night which managed to capture the palpable sense of togetherness that the crowd felt. While tracks like “Delicious Things” and “Lipstick on the Glass” cultivated darker tones which helped to create a very well-rounded set list that managed to maintain a high level of energy throughout.
On “The Sofa” the band played a gentle celebration of life’s quiet moments which pondered on ageing and expired dreams. In a brilliant show of stagecraft, singer Ellie Rowsell reclined over a section of the Albert Hall's velvet seats, briefly turning the opulent venue into a cosy living room, complete with impromptu sofa.
During the set, the band brought out a group of folk musicians to accompany a section of songs. This proved to be a delight as the band debuted two brand new songs “Gospel Oak” and “Hit the Sky”. With the accompanying musicians, these songs sounded rootsy and emotive, possibly pointing towards the sound of the band's next record. This section also saw the full band debut of “Midnight Song” from the band's latest album, which sounded thoroughly enchanting.
Many of the songs chosen for the set list seemed restrained, channelling a gentler affair rather than more fuzzed-out rock, but this turned out to further enhance the heartfelt vibrancy of the night that channelled the messages of the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs that had been capped off by this evening.
Ending the main set was “Bloom Baby Bloom” the lead single off the band's latest album. This song was a real cathartic moment within the set, as the audience channelled everything they had into the banshee wails of the chorus.
Immediate cries for more echoed from the crowd, which were quickly answered as a haunting rendition of “Last Man On The Earth” started the encore and saw the Royal Albert Hall’s organ lit up while providing magnificent musical textures to the already epic song. Modern classic “Don’t Delete the Kisses” closed out the evening in suitably emotional fashion. As dazzling disco lights swirlled around every inch of the hall, the assembled thousands frolicked.
As the lights raised and the band bid farewell, the audience was giddy with the afterglow of the show they had just witnessed. Wolf Alice continues to grow into one of the best live bands around, and tonight that musical masterclass was put to use for a great cause.
You can donate to the Teenage Cancer Trust: HERE
Buy Tickets to Wolf Alice's Finsbury Park Summer Show: HERE
