Live Review + Gallery | Prima Queen @ Islington Assembly Hall

Prima Queen | Bekah Bossard | Lilo

Islington Assembly Hall, London

22nd May 2025

Photography by Matt Wellham (@mattwellham)

Matt Wellham

After years of photographing and filming the London music scene, Matt’s now based in Sydney, Australia. A lover of the post-punk and alternative movement, he can usually be found in the grassroots venues, camera in one hand and a beer in the other.

Debuting their new album ‘The Prize,’ Prima Queen remind us why they’re an absolute peach to experience live

Prima Queen blend their indie rock sound into catchy, sing-along anthems that you can’t help but dance along to. Similar to HAIM, the songwriting pair’s lyrics often tackle themes of friendship, romantic experiences, and self-discovery.

The first act on stage at Islington Assembly Hall was Bekah Bossard, who performed to a small but growing crowd. Bekah’s dream pop quickly set the tone for the evening. Her sweeping tracks ‘Venus’ and ‘San Diego’ transfixed the audience as her emotive, raw voice echoed through the hall.

Next up were Lilo, London’s very own songwriting duo. The pair, reminiscent of Laura Marling and First Aid Kit, created beautiful vocal harmonies layered over intimate acoustic arrangements. ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore’ was a particularly emotional highlight, a track that explores the feeling of staying in a relationship after realising you no longer love your partner.

It’s a sentiment I’m sure many in the crowd had felt before, as they gazed up at the stage in near silence. The act announced this was their biggest London show to date, and with tracks like ‘Out Of My Head (I Said What I Said)’ and ‘Spit Up’, it won’t be long before they’re headlining a venue of this size themselves.

As the lights dipped, it was time for tonight’s headliners, who came bundling out on stage to a packed, though not quite sold-out, venue. Louise Macphail was adorned in a white dress that juxtaposed the soft touch of bows and ribbons with sharper, punkier threads. On the other side of the stage, Kristin McFadden wore a frilled white skirt with a bright red Adidas top, continuing the sporty theme of their debut record. Once in place, the pair launched into ‘Mexico’, a track with a tender opening that offers a rhythmic platform for their harmonies to shine.

A few songs in, the hook filled melody of Prima Queen’s fan favourite ‘Chew My Cheeks’ rang out. The crowd was in full sing-along mode, with pockets of people swaying and belting out “You make it easy”. The song explores feelings of wanting to be seen, vulnerability, and desire. It’s effortlessly cool, and the pair beamed as they conducted this captivated crowd.

Prima Queen are, without a doubt, a lot of fun. Their smiles and energy are infectious as they work their way through the majority of their new record. ‘Sunshine Song’ offered a break from the pop bangers, presenting a more stripped-back moment centred around a repeating lyric. On a particularly grey day following a long spell of good weather, it was a track that clearly resonated, as the crowd sang along warmly.

Before playing ‘The Prize’, the duo took a moment to read out the names of some lucky winners, fans who had supported them from the beginning, attended multiple shows, or included a particularly sweet dad and daughter combo who’d made the effort to be there. The winners received a literal signed peach, a fun, charming gesture that showed just how connected Prima Queen are to their fans.

The track itself is a personal favourite from the album, a song written to remind their friends that they are the prize, not the guy. It’s a light, heartfelt pop track that encapsulates the fun, catchy hooks Prima Queen have become known for. Tonight’s opening acts joined them on stage, adding an extra layer to this feel good, sing-along belter. Prima Queen’s music is full of smart lyricism, addressing heartbreak, friendship, and life’s challenges. But it’s also uplifting and joyous, powerful enough to bring together nearly 900 people to celebrate, connect and have fun.