Wolf Alice - First Direct Arena, Leeds 05.12.2025

Wolf Alice

Sunflower Bean

Bria Salmena

This wasn’t my first time seeing Wolf Alice, I’ve been buying their albums for years, have seen them live several times before and come to know them as real contenders who felt ready to step up but this gig was something different for them, quite simply put it felt like their graduation into the big league.

They have been knocking at the door for quite a while but, when I reviewed their new album, 'The Clearing', for this site earlier this year I described it as their world domination album and this show made it abundantly clear they are ready to headline arenas, headline festivals and be your favourite band.

If the people around about me at this gig were an example of their current fan base they already are many peoples favourite band, the devotion, the joy the singing of every lyric, the dancing, the bouncing, the happiness, showed that their fans are already really connected, when I saw them support the Foo Fighters a few years ago I thought they were capable of this and they knocked it out the park.

What I did really like was this was a very mixed demographic of an audience, every age was represented and for once, for what is a band at the rockier side of music, the audience was not overwhelmingly male. There was a really good mix of people, couples, parents and children, groups of friends and people on their own. Clearly a Wolf Alice gig is a safe place for everyone.

I didn’t make it in time to see the first support act as the weather was terrible, and roads were closed but I’m really pleased I made it in time for Sunflower Bean. Not because I knew them, quite the opposite, I had no idea who they were so seeing them was a total revelation. They were excellent, I haven’t enjoyed a support act quite so much in a long time. Their lead singer has an amazing voice and for three people to make this much noise is really impressive! The songs were so good I’ve already added a number to some of my playlists. If, like I did, you have no idea who they are time to discover them, they are brilliant and have new music coming out.

Wolf Alice had giant glitter balls, revolving stages, the attitude and the style but most importantly, they have the songs. This concert was so good because they have so much great music, 'Bloom Baby Bloom', was unleashed two songs in, 'How Can I Make it OK?' A personal favourite of mine was the seventh song. To be so confident in what you have to offer and to just perform this well is a sign this band is ready, they are hitting their peak, they are about to go stratospheric, and they are going to be do it with so much style and attitude its almost unfair to other bands.

If you haven’t seen them yet you need to go, buy those tickets, if you haven’t listened to them yet what are you waiting for get them on.

This is Wolf Alice’s time, get on board before it’s too late, you really, really, won’t regret it.

Wolf Alice

Sunflower Bean

Bria Salmena

Review - Iain McClay

Photos - snapagig.com