O2 Academy, Oxford 14th November 2025
The Lilacs are a band associated with festivals and tents, often seen providing the soundtrack for much-needed refuge from the scorching summer sun. And for a similar reason, the crowd is grateful for their show in Oxford tonight. But rather than being sat in a sunny field taking in the music, everyone is dripping and wet, courtesy of Storm Claudia. Once inside the O2 Academy, however, soaked-through coats are taken off, revealing a myriad of band tees representing The Lilacs and other bands of their ilk, including The K’s, Oasis, Pale Waves, and everyone in between.
And although the weather is completely and utterly miserable, the atmosphere inside is that of a mid-season festival. From the moment the Wigan band step on stage, arms are flying, people are dancing, and the crowd is thrilled. It doesn’t matter to them that the mixing is slightly off or that the band occasionally fall out of tempo. Or, indeed, that more often than not, Ollie Angelsea’s vocals land so hard that he seems to be shouting the lyrics more than singing them. The crowd is there to have fun and forget the rain for the evening, and that’s precisely what they’re going to do.
But despite their glee, The Lilacs fail to fully bounce off the expectant spark in the crowd.
Some songs, like the easygoing ‘Sticky Dancefloors’ and the anthemic ‘Where’ve You Been Hiding’, evoke raucous singalongs of both their lyrics and their riffs, while others, like the newly-released ‘You’re Not That Daft’, are met with scattered applause and the nodding of heads. On stage, the band seem to be having the time of their lives, particularly when, as if by magic, a crate of beer appears on stage. Following guitarist Sam Birchall’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year, the sheer joy the band radiate on stage make the show feel all the more poignant.
But despite their glee, The Lilacs fail to fully bounce off the expectant spark in the crowd. Rather than inciting singalongs or dancing or indulging in some form of mild chaos, they instead beg for more applause after each track, straddling the line between exuberant confidence and arrogance.
A mid-set acoustic performance by Angelsea slows the set down, which includes B-side ‘When the Happy Hour Ends’. Soon enough, the rest of the band return to the stage and launch into ‘Something or Nothing’ and ‘Calling it a Night’.
It’s a welcome distraction from the weather and everyday life, and it’s a cathartic way to let loose on a Friday evening
“This is our last song,” they preface before playing ‘The 395 (To Forever)’, and duly making their way off stage. A battlecry of “Up The Lilacs!” bring them back out, while Angelsea declares, “Cancel your taxis, we’ve got a few more left!”. ‘Grace’ has some whipping out a bucket hat in line with its chorus “There you were at the bus stop, just sat / With your long blonde hair and a bucket hat”, while their debut single ‘Vicarage Road’ evokes the loudest singalong of the night. With one final cry and one final cheer, the lights dim, and they leave the stage for good. The lights turn on, the crowd turns to go, and the stifling air in the venue is replaced by gusty, wet wind.
Overall, it’s a fun show – it’s a welcome distraction from the weather and everyday life, and it’s a cathartic way to let loose on a Friday evening. After years of experience, the band’s stage presence has grown, and the efforts show. However, the shortcomings in other areas are noticeable, whether it be the volume and the mixing, Angelsea’s vocal delivery, the occasional slipping of tempo, or their slight arrogance on stage. It’s a fun evening, however, and the strength of their tracks more than makes up for it.
Words and images: Sophie Flint Vázquez
TrueStyleMusic 