Live Review – Paloma Faith at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo

Words and Photography: Isabella Nixon

Fresh from releasing new album The Glorification of Sadness, London-born pop icon Paloma Faith embarked on 26 live shows across the UK. Stopping off at London’s iconic Hammersmith Apollo during the near-month-long tour, LDN’s resident photographer Isabella headed down to capture the event through her lens.

Paloma Faith is widely known for her retro and eccentric style, alongside being a British musical phenomenon, so immediately I wanted to grab the opportunity to photograph her. Opening the show with ‘There’s Nothing More Human Than Failure’, Faith fiercely took the stage. Being a more relaxed gig suitable for her target audience, the crowd was seated, offering everyone a great view of the icon herself, alongside her incredible band. ‘How You Leave a Man’ and ‘God in a Dress’ swiftly followed.

Faith brings radiant energy to the stage, alongside power and vulnerability. Discussing subjects such as her divorce, perimenopause, and current issues within the world, Faith embraces woman empowerment in a variety of ways, which is wildly appreciated by her fanbase. As this gig was on the 3rd of July, Faith reminded us how important the following day was regarding voting, before moving on to a range of songs from her first set, such as ‘I am Enough’, ‘Cry on the Dance Floor’ and ‘Sweatpants’. Find the full setlist here.

Faith is that much of a star that she had an intermission – yes, you read that right! Forget support acts, we were in store for a full 2-hour set. Within the first half, Faith wore a latex clear coat, in which she even joked positioned her as a ‘human condom’. Switching up to the second set post-intermission, Faith wore a beautiful leopard print number, treating us to some of her classics, such as ‘Upside Down’ and ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’. She had us all dancing, making the gig a very memorable and wholesome evening.

Tuck into the live gallery from the evening below.