Alessi Rose is star on the rise at Hoxton Hall.
Alessi Rose arrives on stage for a second sold-out night at the decadent Hoxton Hall in London with mischief in her eyes. A carefully-placed tiara sparkles on the 21-year-old’s head as she raises her hands to pray. “I’m about to preach and profess all my feelings,” she teases over the opening murmurs of ‘the pit’.
It’s been a stratospheric year for the rising star, who played her first-ever support slot to 150 people exactly a year ago. Fast forward 12 months and Alessi has sold out the 300-capacity Hoxton Hall twice over, as well as stopping off in Nottingham and Glasgow on tour.
Encouraging fans to take part in the theme of a sparkly birthday extravaganza, the 19th-century venue is full of fancy dress and party hats, while every attendee is given a tiara to match the pop stars on entry.
The singer certainly knows how to create an atmosphere. Earlier this year, at her debut headline show, Alessi debuted her wicked heartbreak lyrics at the altar of St Pancras Old Church. There was a permanent grin on the singer’s face that night and, as Hoxton cheers in preparation for ‘eat me alive’, that trademark smirk is back with a vengeance - “London, are you ready?” she teases before the track’s final rallying chorus.
The songwriter has made a name for herself with easily quotable lyrics and mischievously candid takes on relationships. On streaming services, it’s an endearing listen and the tracks transcend to an even new giddy high on stage. Latest single ‘oh my’ is a perfect example, its stripped-back play on losing and giving head making a genius singalong.
Alessi Rose is at her most compelling when leaning into the playful, at one moment she conducts a chorus of boos before the self-sabotaging ‘break me’. However, behind the big personality are moments of vulnerability.
The singer picks up her pink guitar ahead of ‘lucy’ and between the side-eye at Prom Queen-type girl from school, you can just make out the insecure musings of a girl just trying to find her place. There’s more teenage angst too in a clever cover choice of Lorde hit ‘Ribs’, which picks up the pace again before the night comes towards an end.
Alessi’s Tuesday night energy in Hoxton is made all the more impressive by the admission her late-stage arrival came due to the effects of a stomach bug leaving her hunched over a bin backstage. Even that admission comes with a wink. “Everyone wants a BRAT summer, until you’re doing something BRAT,” she giggles.