Live Review
my bloody valentine + CHVRCHES play unique shows for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall
my bloody valentine + CHVRCHES put in jaw-dropping performances for the legendary Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall series – at the invitation of guest curator Robert Smith.
From March 23-29, other headliners selected by The Cure legend include elbow, Mogwai, Manic Street Preachers, Garbage and Wolf Alice, as well as a night of Robert Smith’s Comedy Favourites.
Spotted in the venue ahead of the my bloody valentine set were stars including Yungblud, comedian Bridget Christie, Stuart Braithwaite of Wednesday headliner Mogwai and Brian Molko, the singer of Placebo, who will perform a stripped back set on Saturday night.
The mbv audience knew they were in for something very special from Kevin Shields, Colm Ó Cíosóig, Debbie Googe and Bilinda Butcher – but few could quite know how the band’s unique sound would adapt to the Royal Albert Hall.
An indisputably classic album, 1991’s Loveless is the bedrock of the work, previously unimagined guitar textures wrapping themselves in unexpected rhythms. In the Royal Albert Hall, the likes of opener ‘i only said’ and ‘come in alone’ brought pounding drums and ambient beauty.
‘to here knows when’ saw a break from the barrage, waves of guitar rippling around the room.
The show brought wall of noise, the attack penetrated by beautiful melody, sometimes overwhelming, often building together with ear-splitting volume to create a transcendent sound that brought the audience spontaneously to their feet.
my bloody valentine CREDIT: John Stead
They are a band huge in volume but of few words, a heckler in the crowd briefly drawing a response from Kevin Shields.
“I love you Kevin.”
“I love you too. I love you more.”
‘slow’ was big but ‘soon’ is massive, the volume ramping up and delivering warmth and rhythm, the lighting and projections bathing the Royal Albert Hall into pink light. ‘Wonder 2’, from 2013’s MBV, pulls drum and bass apart and reimagines it as something completely new. Drummer Colm Ó Cíosóig joined his bandmates to add another guitar to the assault in an intense rendition that stretched the old Hall to its limits.
As is the band’s custom, the set ended with an incredible ‘You Made Me Realise’, its sweet melodies punctuated by an avalanche of noise.
Chvrches opened the evening having previously collaborated with curator Robert Smith on the song ‘How Not To Drown’, which featured here. The set was billed as “stripped back” and saw the band’s sound reimagined with electronic drums and guitar sounds leaning into their shoegaze influences.
Guitarist Iain Cook said: “It’s such an honour. We got to do a song with Robert Smith a few years ago so it’s good to hang out and reconnect with him again. To be asked to do this is such a huge honour. We’re all really big cure fans and MBV fans, so it is a dream come true scenario. And for a wonderful cause. It’s great to be able to do a small bit for the charity. We’re honoured and pleased to be here.”
NTS Radio DJ Flo Dill, who compered the evening, said: “It was quite surreal – and an honour. I’m a huge Robert Smith, and a huge My Bloody Valentine fan. And it’s a fantastic cause – one that I previously hadn’t thought so much about. But meeting those young people and hearing them speak was inspiring. It’s an extremely important cause, and really beautiful to see everyone coming together and donating.”
Celebrated accordionist Nihad Hrustanbegovic is playing at the venue each night as audiences arrive at Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
Cancer kills more teenagers and young adults in the UK than any other disease, yet cancer care wasn’t made for young people. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer, funding specialist nurses, youth workers and 28 hospital units within the NHS.
Its Royal Albert Hall fundraising concert series was launched and curated by Teenage Cancer Trust Honorary Patron Sir Roger Daltrey, who was knighted for services to charity and music earlier this year, from 2000 to 2025.
This year’s curator Robert Smith is the first in a series of guest curators who will take on the mantle of raising money for this vital cause in future.
Robert Smith said: “I was 17 when I started the band that turned into The Cure. There was so much I wanted to do. It is hard to imagine the impact it would have had on my life if at that age had heard the words you have cancer. The money you help raise tonight will mean that Teenage Cancer Trust can be there for young people right from that first devastating moment of diagnosis, through every step of their treatment and beyond, to help them recover and hopefully live life to the full.”
He said that as well as raising vital funds, the gigs are a celebration of what it means to be young – “and of young people’s determination not to let cancer take that away from them”.
He said: “I wanted to make this a truly unforgettable week, and am enormously grateful to all the artists who accepted my invitation to perform. Each of them is either legendary or at the top of their game – indeed, in most cases, they are both! I am sure it is going to be a fabulous week.”
This year Teenage Cancer Trust has launched ‘Good Energy’, an art exhibition and print series at the Royal Albert Hall, running from March 18th to April 9th. The collection captures the visceral, shared experience of live music between artist and fan, positioning the “mosh pit” not as a place of chaos, but as a sanctuary of safety and community. The exhibition features 21 limited-edition silk screen prints, chosen by iconic acts including The 1975, Geese, Fontaines DC, Wolf Alice, Yungblud, Nick Cave, Nia Archives, Keane, Sex Pistols feat Frank Carter, The Big Moon, The Snuts, Courteeners, Bring Me The Horizon, Enter Shikari, Elbow and more. Buy online HERE.
James Ainscough OBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have hosted Teenage Cancer Trust’s annual shows for a quarter of a century, supporting this vital and groundbreaking work that improves the lives of young people with cancer every day.”
Jules Worrall, Interim Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “The Royal Albert Hall gigs are pivotal in helping Teenage Cancer Trust change the lives of young people with cancer.
“For more than 20 years, our Honorary Patron Sir Roger Daltrey curated star-studded lineups year after year. For 2026, that baton has passed to Robert Smith, and wow, what a job he has done.
“Once again, some of the biggest names from across the music and entertainment industry will be making us sing, dance and laugh – but more importantly they will be raising essential funds and shining the brightest spotlight on the needs of young people with cancer. We are so grateful for Robert’s support, to every artist performing and everyone who buys a ticket.
“Here’s to an astonishing week of legendary gigs, and getting young people with cancer the specialised care and support they need.”
Rob Ballantine, Director of S.J.M Concerts, said: “SJM concerts have for over two decades been privileged to pull together the week of fund raising shows for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
“This year working with Cureator Robert Smith has been a real pleasure and we have seen first hand how hard and how diligently he has worked to bring together such a high calibre line up of artists. The respect he commands in the industry is obvious and we would like to add our name to that long list and thank him for such an amazing job. We know the fans will support these shows as they do every year and we hope to raise much needed funds for this amazing charity. Thank you to all the artists and their representatives who have made this happen, we look forward to an incredible week of shows at the Royal Albert Hall next March.”
Jane Ashton, Head of Music and Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Once again, the music and entertainment industry has come together for a fantastic cause. Money raised from the Royal Albert Hall shows changes lives by funding specialist care and support for young people with cancer. We can’t thank the legend that is Robert Smith enough for all the time and energy he has given to curating this epic line-up.
“The 2025 series raised a wonderful record-breaking £2.05 million, but we’d love to beat it! The urgent need to support young people when they hear the devastating words ‘its cancer’ remains. Thanks to the unwavering support of artists, managers, agents, promoters, crew, and our generous audiences, Teenage Cancer Trust can help them get through cancer, rebuild their life and shape their own future.”
my bloody valentine setlist
i only said
when you sleep
new you
you never should
honey power
cigarette in your bed
only tomorrow
come in alone
only shallow
off your face
thorn
Nothing Much To Lose
to here knows when
slow
soon
wonder 2
feed me with your kiss
you made me realise
CHVRCHES setlist
Asking For A Friend
Lullabies
Nightmares
How Not To Drown
Conman
The Mother We Share
Clearest Blue