JAMES MARRIOTT: LONDON, UK
James Marriott with support from Hannah Grae & Chloe Slater
at O2 Academy Brixton in London, UK - 17/09/2026
words and photos by Schuyler “Sky” Aldridge
After a stunning main stage performance at Reading and Leeds Festival, indie-star James Marriott brought a wide array of new material and a glimpse into his next era to a sold-out O2 Academy Brixton.
Following the success of his 2025 album Don’t Tell The Dog, which achieved number one in the charts, the accompanying era was coming to a close. In the weeks leading up to the Brixton show, Marriott kept teasing fans with one overarching message: “You have been warned.” He recently released ‘Burn Down The Disco’, the first single from his upcoming third album Warning Signs, set for release on January 15th, after debuting the track at select summer shows and festivals.
Supporting James at the spacious O2 Academy Brixton was Hannah Grae, who had previously opened for him on his debut 2023 tour, alongside Chloe Slater, who has been on an incredible rise with her vibrant indie-pop-rock sound.
With a queue stretching around multiple streets and some fans having waited for more than six hours, the crowd could barely contain their excitement when Hannah Grae took to the stage. She immediately brought an enormous amount of energy to the room, powering through hits such as ‘Star Crossed Lover’, with her commanding stage presence showing that she was more than capable of taking on one of the country’s most iconic music venues.
There was also a particularly sweet moment during her set as the show happened to fall on her birthday. One of her crew members brought out a birthday cake, prompting the entire crowd to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ back to her. It was a wholesome moment that felt perfect, celebrating her birthday by performing at Brixton Academy to a room full of fans.
Chloe Slater was next, opening with ‘I’ve Never Felt So Hated’. She effortlessly built the energy throughout the track before unleashing it on the crowd, then moved into ‘Mother Nature’s Killing Spree’ from her upcoming album. She continued to deliver hit after hit, with the audience fully invested every step of the way. Some fans at the barrier were clearly huge Slater fans, shouting every word straight back at her and matching her energy from the front of the room.
Shortly after, it was finally time for James Marriott to take the stage. ‘Ventriloquist’ has become a staple of James’ live set, with the track feeling almost destined to open a show, and this night was no different. This time, however, a curtain covered the stage, adding another artistic layer to the performance as lights illuminated silhouettes of the band throughout the song.
Moving into ‘Burn Down The Disco’, the curtain dropped as the first verse hit, revealing an entirely new set design. The entire back wall was lined with lights, while raised platforms for the band were decorated with yellow and black tape, all centred around a huge yellow warning sign. After the song’s incredible marketing run across social media, there was no surprise when the chorus arrived and the line “I go insane for you” was shouted straight back at the band by the entire audience.
After performing ‘Burn Down The Disco’ for the first time since its release, Marriott took a moment to thank the crowd before jokingly asking, “Did you like it?” He then nervously told the audience that he had an announcement to make. Inside the room, there was a strange feeling that everyone already knew what was coming. When Marriott finally announced that Warning Signs, his third album, would be released on January 15th, the room erupted into cheers and applause.
Later in the set, he debuted ‘Lovestruck’, another track from the upcoming album. The song has a warm, dreamy quality to it, feeling like something made to slowly dance along to. With each album Marriott releases, you can hear his vocals becoming more developed and natural, and ‘Lovestruck’ is no exception. The higher vocal line in the chorus particularly highlighted just how much his voice continues to develop.
He didn’t stop with the new material there. The encore opened with an extended intro and gradual build-up into the second live performance of ‘Sleepwalker’. The crowd were clearly not disappointed, especially considering the only other time the song had been played was at the much smaller Concorde 2 in Brighton, meaning only a select few had previously heard it live.
The ending, where Marriott holds the final vocal in a powerful belt, already feels destined to become another iconic moment of the future Warning Signs tour. With so much of the new era still to come, Brixton was the ultimate conclusion and celebration of the Don’t Tell The Dog era and the beginning of the Warning Signs era.
hannah grae
chloe slater
james marriott
