It’s not often you see an artist meet their moment so completely, but that’s exactly what Alessi Rose did at Birmingham’s O2 Academy, the biggest stop on her Voyeur Tour and her largest headline show to date. The Midlands-born alt-pop poet gave her hometown crowd a night that was loud, emotional, and full of the kind of “you had to be there” magic that fans will be talking about for years.
Born in Derby and raised in a home soundtracked by ‘80s new wave and Taylor Swift-era country, Alessi’s love for performance started early. From musical theatre classes to school poetry competitions, she’s always been wired for self-expression. But the leap from childhood creativity to this sold-out stage wasn’t handed to her, it was built, bit by bit, from bedroom videos inspired by Gracie Abrams and DIY demos uploaded to BBC Introducing. Dean Jackson championed her rough, unmixed early songs long before there was a record deal in sight.
Opening with a triple-hit combo, the punchy That Could Be Me, Eat Me Alive (complete with a scream-along “1-2-3-4” chant), and a stripped-back Don’t Ask Questions, Alessi set the tone for a night that flipped between emotional intimacy and raw intensity.
And the crowd? Absolutely feral in the best way. This was not just another tour stop, it was a homecoming. The room buzzed with power and pride, with Alessi visibly moved by the warmth. “I can always count on the Midlands,” she said, half-laughing, half-overwhelmed, as the crowd roared loud enough to shake the rafters.
Birmingham’s O2 Academy might be a cavernous space, but it felt intimate, thanks to the sea of homemade signs, spontaneous singalongs, and the kind of collective energy only a largely female, deeply loyal fanbase can deliver. During Take It Or Leave It, fans held up printed signs that read “we love you we mean it”, and later, during Pretty World, a sea of “we love you Alessi” signs popped up. It was one of those rare crowd moments that feels totally unmanufactured, just pure love.
And if you thought that was emotional, try watching Alessi step onto the barricade mid-Pretty World, singing into a crowd that sang every word back with religious fervour. That moment? Pure cinema.
She didn’t shy away from reflection either. Talking openly between songs, Alessi spoke about seeing her heroes on that very stage, how surreal it was to now be the one headlining it. Her last Birmingham headline was at the O2 Institute, smaller, scrappier, but just as heartfelt. The pride in how far she’d come wasn’t just written on her face, it was in every note.
She also brought the Voyeur (Deluxe) energy full-force, performing all three new tracks, First Original Thought, Get Around, and Falling Forever. With the deluxe drop still fresh, the crowd already knew every lyric, singing them back like they’d been part of the setlist forever.
And just when we thought she was done, the mini-encore hit. RIP, followed by Same Mouth, a final punch of vulnerability and strength that left us collectively destroyed in the best way.
Alessi Rose doesn’t just sing about OCD, social anxiety and all the mess of being young and feeling too much, she builds a space where everyone in that headspace feels seen. She’s part Taylor, part Lorde, part something entirely her own. And in Birmingham, she proved she’s not just coming into her era, she’s building it in real time, with the people who helped her get there screaming every word back.
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