Paolo Nutini Raises The Bar At Alexandra Palace

by | Oct 26, 2022

The name Paolo Nutini has in recent years been synonymous with a superstar-in-waiting who simply disappeared. Moving from playing at Balham’s famous Bedford pub at the tender age of 17, being signed to Atlantic Records at just 18 and releasing his smash hit debut album These Streets one year later, it’s easy to understand why three records in he simply went AWOL. 2006’s These Streets was followed up with 2009’s chart-topping Sunny Side Up and 2014’s equally high-rising Caustic Love, deliverer of breakaway hit single Iron Sky. This massive success drawn out by an extensive accompanying touring schedule led the then 27-year-old to stop and take a hiatus. Which went on to last some eight years.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

Earlier this year news broke that Nutini was back, and Last Night In The Bittersweet was released in July, following a string of low-key UK shows including a secret set at Glastonbury Festival’s Rabbit Hole. Following a kick-off show at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, Nutini dives head-first into the first of two sold out shows at North London’s historic Alexandra Palace venue.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

Appearing bathed in red light on the vast stage, flanked by video screens showing a live stage feed and with a huge screen rotating psychedelic images forming it’s backdrop, the 35-year-old kicks off the night with the gut-wrenching wails of Bittersweet opener Afterneath, a statement that tonight will not be a “greatest hits” show, but will showcase the maturity and grit of Nutini’s fourth record.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

The Paisley man scowls and points in his signature way, eyes tightly shut as he and his extensive band transition to Lose It, also from the new record, taking the freedom of not being attached to an instrument to move about the stage and scream – Robert Plant style – over the song’s closing verse.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

“Good Evening Alexandra Palace, it’s great to be here with you beautiful people. Let’s have some fun!” Nutini offers before an outing of Scream (Funk My Life Up) demonstrates that tonight will also refrain from being a vanity project limited to just new material, the 2014 single scoring a huge reaction from an already riled up North London crowd, the brass section of Nutini’s band adding so much to the colour of the Caustic Love cut.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

More from Last Night In The Bittersweet comes next by way of soulful Acid Eyes – immediately eliciting the crowd to sing along – and the melancholy Stranded Words (Interlude), Nutini’s Paisley accent and low thudding beat flowing across the packed former television broadcasting hall.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

The set continues to flow between the new and more familiar material, Nutini moving between guitars, keyboards and simply encasing his microphone with his hands, eyes tightly shut. Radio from the new record is a particular highlight, it’s rumbling bass-line and delicate vocals echoing around the vast hall.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

Disappointingly but perhaps unavoidably, These Streets is the record touched upon least tonight, with teenage hit single Jenny Don’t Be Hasty featuring only as part of medley intertwined with New Shoes from the same record alongside a rendition of The Undertones’ Teenage Kicks. There’s no sign of Nutini’s 2006 breakthrough single Last Request.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

Nutini closes out the main set with fan favourite sophomore record hit Candy followed by bluesy new album cut Everywhere, the slow-burn track winding out in a crescendo which sweeps so effectively over the swaying Ally Pally crowd. After departing, it’s not long before he’s back on stage with Caustic Love tracks Let Me Down Easy and massive hit Iron Sky, the latter simply shimmering in the reverberating North London hall.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

The night closes with a one-two punch from Bittersweet: a shimmering Shine A Light riling the crowd into a frenzy before an acoustic solo rendition of Abigail dials it back down and the 35-year-old waves his way off stage.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

Tonight demonstrates more strongly than perhaps ever before that Paolo Nutini shouldn’t be playing Alexandra Palace on this tour. He should, instead, have appeared tonight at one of London’s 20,000-capacity arenas. If he isn’t headlining a main stage at one of the U.K.’s major summer festivals outside of Scotland in 2023, I’ll be extremely surprised.

Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace

Paolo Nutini plays a second night at Alexandra Palace tonight before continuing on his UK headline tour, which concludes with a massive five dates at Glasgow’s OVO Arena in December.

Paolo Nutini’s remaining UK and Ireland tour dates for 2022 are:  OCTOBER26th: London, Alexandra Palace28th: Birmingham, O2 Academy29th: Hull, Bonus Arena31st: Edinburgh, O2 Academy NOVEMBER1st: Aberdeen, Music Hall4th: Cardiff, International Arena  DECEMBER10th: Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena13th: Glasgow, OVO Arena14th: Glasgow, OVO Arena16th: Glasgow, OVO Arena18th: Glasgow, OVO Arena20th: Glasgow, OVO Arena

Live review and Photography of Paolo Nutini @ Alexandra Palace by Kalpesh Patel on 25th October 2022.

Clairo Shows Brixton How To Sling

Jeff Lynne Cancels Final ELO Show At BST Hyde Park 2025 Following Illness

In a heartbreaking development for fans, Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) have cancelled what was set to be their final ever UK performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 13 July 2025. The decision follows Lynne’s continued ill health and comes just days after the group’s second show at Manchester’s Co-op Live on 10th July was pulled moments before showtime, after the venue had already filled with fans. Lynne, 77, has been battling a systemic infection and is now under close medical supervision.

Olivia Dean @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Olivia Dean Warms A Damp Hyde Park With Soulful Resilience At BST Hyde Park 2025

Though clouds still loomed and the ground remained squelchy underfoot, Olivia Dean brought a welcome calm and undeniable warmth to BST Hyde Park’s Great Oak Stage on Sunday afternoon. Following a weather-disrupted opening set by Amber Mark — whose performance was cut short by a torrential downpour — Dean arrived as the skies cleared, bringing poise, polish, and powerful vocals to a crowd that refused to let a bit of British summer rain dampen their spirits.

Clairo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Clairo Brings Soft Focus And Dreamy Intimacy To The Great Oak Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In the golden lull between a dramatic afternoon downpour and Sabrina Carpenter’s headline pop spectacle, Clairo turned London’s Great Oak Stage into a sanctuary of softness and reflection. Her early evening performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 6th July offered a tender contrast to the festival’s typically high-energy crescendo, inviting the crowd into a quieter, more introspective space.

Jessie Murph (Press)

Jessie Murph Announces Bold New Album ‘Sex Hysteria’, Shares Vulnerable New Single ‘Bad As The Rest’

Boundary-breaking rising star Jessie Murph has unveiled her latest single Bad As The Rest, offering a raw and emotionally charged glimpse into her upcoming sophomore album Sex Hysteria, due out on 18th July via Columbia Records.

The Jacques (Nick Sayers)

The Jacques Announce Riotous New Single ‘All The Other Sinners’ Ahead of Second Album ‘Make Repetition!’

London/Bristol alt-rock trio The Jacques are ramping up momentum ahead of their second album Make Repetition! with the release of their blistering new single All The Other Sinners — a searing, melody-drenched slice of chaos and catharsis out now.

Cam @ The Tabernacle (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Cam Captivates London With A Night Of Raw Vocals And Real Stories At The Tabernacle

In a sweltering Tabernacle, a somehow both vast and intimate venue, a sweat-soaked audience filled every seat for...
J.Fla (Press)

J.Fla Redefines Herself With Empowering New Single ‘Stellar Paradox’

South Korean singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation J.Fla has taken a giant leap into the cosmos with her newest release, Stellar Paradox, marking the start of a bold new chapter in her musical journey. Known to millions for her viral YouTube covers, J.Fla now turns the spotlight firmly onto her own voice with a genre-blending, emotionally charged original that paves the way for her highly anticipated upcoming EP, due in late summer 2025.

Chloe Qisha @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Chloe Qisha Closes The Rainbow Stage In Style At BST Hyde Park 2025

After a tempestuous afternoon that saw Hyde Park lashed by torrential rain and set times thrown into flux, it was Chloe Qisha who restored the calm — and then brought the fire — as she closed the Rainbow Stage on Sunday evening with a confident, emotionally astute set that proved worth the wait.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing