It's been a while since Rachel Chinouriri last headlined her hometown, a fact she acknowledged on stage at Shoreditch Town Hall on Wednesday night (June 3). "I realized I haven't performed in London in, like, over a year. I was worried no one would come tonight," she admitted with a laugh, referring to her break. "Thank you so much for being so wonderful and reminding me how special you are.".
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A performance at London's 2026 SXSW festival gave the British star the opportunity to reunite with his "favorites"—as they affectionately call their fans—after two years of intense and busy work. However, Chinouriri is a musician who is not easily forgotten.
Following the release of her critically acclaimed debut album in 2024, What a Devastating Turn of Events , Chinouriri has cemented her status as one of the UK's preeminent young songwriters, placing her alongside fellow musicians like CMAT and Holly Humberstone. This gorgeous collection of emotional indie music, filled with catchy melodies, has made a splash live, whether on her own headlining tours of the UK and US or during a series of high-profile shows supporting superstars like Florence + the Machine and Sabrina Carpenter. The Croydon native will continue her triumphant run by joining Gracie Abrams as a support act on her upcoming arena tour. New music, soon to be released, will only further cement her reputation.
But for now, it was about reconnecting the 27-year-old singer with her fans, and her performance was both a triumphant return to the capital's stage and a showcase of the musical diversity and strength of the SXSW music program. These were the show's highlights.
His stage presence was unrivaled.
From the moment Chinouriri began performing the opening track, "Garden of Eden," her stage presence was undeniable. Treating the intimate setting of Shoreditch Town Hall like an arena or stadium (venues she's familiar with), she moved around the microphone stand like a true rock star, with industrial fans positioned on either side of the stage to ensure optimal hair movement. Chinouriri is a performer who relishes the stage; when she took the time to survey the audience, their delight was surpassed only by her own.
Loading a new era
The evening offered fans a special surprise in the form of the unreleased track "AAAHHH!!!." First included in the setlist when Rachel opened for Florence + the Machine earlier this year, "AAAHHH!!!" has been quietly creeping into her performances over the past few months. Combining elements of new wave and jangly alternative pop, it brings new influences to Chinouriri's music, evoking associations with bands like The Cure. Chinouriri eagerly hinted at new material: "I spent three months in Los Angeles this year," she told the crowd about her second album. "I was afraid I'd forget the lyrics, but that's because I wrote some…" she teased.
A love letter to her fans
«"To every single person in this room, I say from the bottom of my heart: I love you all," Chinouriri told the audience before performing "So My Darling," one of her breakout hits. The song has accompanied her for over a decade and has evolved into a tender dedication to her fans and their journey. "For us to be able to put this [show] together and spend this evening with you, I will forever be grateful, whether it's just one of you or five of you, I will always be so grateful, because at 17, I wrote the song wondering where it would lead me, and I never thought it would lead me here.".
The energy of the protagonist
There are moments at concerts that become a kind of meme, and the audience is ready to shout out a specific line at the top of its lungs: whether it be «"Blah-blah-blah!"» during Laufey's performance of "From the Start" or a scream «"Useless!"» during Sabrina Carpenter's performance of "Manchild." The latest addition to this list? Chinouriri's "Can We Talk About Isaac?", which drew a chorus of applause: «"He's so perfect, oh my god, I hate him.".
The perfect ending
After a short and sweet intro to "All I Ever Asked" ("in short, to put it in a roundabout way: delete Hinge, it's terrible!"), Rachel performed her penultimate track, a powerful single that sounds even better when the crowd sings along to the "Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo" riff, and then the fiery "Never Need Me," an indie number that demands your full attention.
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