RØRY - 3rd March 2025 - O2 Institute Birmingham

It may be a Monday evening, but that hasn’t deterred the 1,500 eager fans lining the streets of Digbeth Birmingham, wrapping around corners in anticipation. They’re here for one of the most talked-about tours in the UK scene right now. Tonight marks the opening night of RØRY’s highly anticipated tour in support of her latest release, RESTORATION.

Tonight is sold out, as is most of the tour. As somebody who attends a lot of shows, it is not often I struggle to make my way into the room before the first of the three acts, Lake Malice, are finished with their set. Tonight is going to be something special for sure.

Lake Malice had the crowd thoroughly warmed up before being followed by Nottingham band, As December Falls, who delivered a high energy performance and certainly gained a fair amount of fans.

With the beautiful church windows that would provide backdrop on stage and sing along crowd in place to The Cranberries "Zombie'" it was now time for the headliner.

As the lights dim and the church windows emit a purple hue, church bells ring and the spoken words from "In The Bible" escape from the PA. RØRY struts onstage to perform the number, followed by "if pain could talk, what would it say?". Already, this early, the crowd are eating out of the palm of her hand

Throughout the evening, RØRY's authentic storytelling between songs continued the connection with her listeners. Tracks like "Help Your Friends Get Sober" and "My Chemical Romance" were deeply emotional, expressing the feelings of internal conflict and resilience. A rather moving speech about a personal loss preceded "Jesus and John Lennon".

Special mention needs to be made of the '37 Club', a dedicated group of online fans who have created a support page not only to befriend each other but also to offer mutual support for each other's worst times.

The acoustic renditions of "One Drink Away" and "the apology i'll never receive," performed on the venue's balcony, added an intimate touch to the evening. Returning to the main stage, RØRY dove back into high-energy territory with "MORALITY $UICIDE" and "hold on," bringing the crowd back to life. The explosive "WOLVES" and "The Atheist" had everyone jumping, the intensity in the room reaching its peak. RØRY’s ability to shift seamlessly between moments of deep vulnerability and all-out chaos is what makes her performances so compelling.

RØRY’s Birmingham show was a masterclass in emotional storytelling. Her ability to make every lyric feel personal, every note feel urgent, and every moment feel genuine is what makes her one of the most exciting artists in the alt-pop scene today. Whether she was screaming into the mic, sharing a quiet moment on the balcony, or leading the crowd in a cathartic singalong, she ensured that no one left the venue unaffected.

This wasn’t just a concert—it was a therapy session, a celebration, and a confession all rolled into one.