PHOTOGRAPHY Charlie Harris
For the penultimate show of her sold-out UK tour, This is How Tomorrow Moves, London’s very own Beabadobee defined what it means to be a modern-day rockstar, with all the talent and heart to back it up.
The line outside Bristol Beacon was a sight to behold – queues made up of thousands of adoring fans spilled from every entrance, snaking around the building and across every level in the venue. An eclectic mix of parents with young teens, students and groups of friends braved the zero-degree weather, many adorning leg warmers and frilly skirts; the apparent uniform for this tour. Others wore Kimchi & Miso merch as a nod to the artist’s cats (some dedicated fans even dressed in cat costumes emulating her beloved fur babies).
The excitement in the air was palpable, giving fans the feeling that this was going to be more than just a gig, it was going to be a communal experience.
Inside, the grandeur of the concert hall amplified the atmosphere; the vast, multi-storey space with warm acoustics and sleek wooden panelling throughout emphasised every note and cheer. Momma, a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, set the tone of the evening, drawing in a tightly packed crowd with their sombre, grungy sound that was at once introspective and danceable.
As the lights dimmed for Beabadoobee’s entrance, the energy in the room reached new heights. From the very first song ‘Beaches’, she had the crowd eating from her palm. Her fans were not just listening but participating in the performance, screaming every lyric as if their lives depended on it. The reaction to every track felt like the closer; the song they’d all been waiting for.
Throughout Beabadobee’s set, the artist switched effortlessly between acoustic and electric guitar, sometimes taking a break from playing to move around the stage and interact with crowds, dynamic and commanding. At one point, she demanded the audience crouch down then jump as the song rose to crescendo, and all obliged with giddy fervour, transforming the room into a sea of bouncing bodies. True rockstar energy.
Heartfelt moments among the audience were, at points, just as striking as the music. During ‘Coming Home’, a mass of phone lights swayed. A mother in the crowd beamed with tearful joy watching her daughter fully submerged in the exhilaration of seeing her favourite artist perform. The stage itself looked like a dreamscape, the lights casting shadows of trees and woodlands onto the backdrop, imitating a dappled light effect.
Midway through her set, the singer slowed things down, sharing a touching piano-accompanied rendition of ‘Girl Song’. Under soft spotlights, it was clear that the emotions of the night were hitting her just as hard as the countless crying fans. She sang her breakout hit ‘Coffee’ alone on stage without her bandmates – just her, a guitar and the audience – invoking a deep feeling of intimacy. The voices of her fans earnestly singing along almost drowned out her own.
Toward the end of the show, energy surged once more with crowd-pleaser ‘She Plays Bass’, which saw Beabadobee’s bass player, Eliana, having her own moment of glory to the audience’s delight. After abruptly exiting the stage, crowds erupted, screaming for more – and more they got. The artist returned solo, acoustic guitar in hand, for her well-deserved encore. Phone lights filled the room again as she looked out lovingly into the crowd for the final song.
Post-show chatter captured the spirit of the show perfectly; “Shall we just start a band and perform together?” an audience member asked their friends. That’s the kind of energy Beabadobee leaves you with; electric, inspired, and full of love. The show was more than just entertainment – it was an outpouring of creativity, community and connection. A true testament to her star power. To quote a fan-made sign seen at the show, “WE <3 U BEABADOOBEE”.
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