LIVE REVIEW
03/07/2025 - LANA DEL REY, WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDOn
Credit: GETTY IMAGES // GARETH CATTERMOLE.
Words by Jord Hailwood
Angelic, mesmerising and unintentionally chaotic would be the best way to describe Lana Del Rey’s first night at her sold-out show at Wembley Stadium last night. The New York-born hitmaker embarked on her first U.K. tour in over 12 years, and the moment felt truly surreal to witness.
If someone had told me thirteen years ago that Del Rey would one day sell out Wembley, I’d have been in disbelief. Despite the turbulence in her career — from that infamous SNL performance to other controversies I won’t mention, she’s continued to thrive in a space she arguably didn’t fit into at first. Del Rey has reshaped what it means to be a pop star, challenging traditional norms and creating her own path to global success.
The opening act was newcomer Addison Rae, best known as one of TikTok’s most-followed creators, now transitioning into music. Her debut album, Addison, dropped last month and includes tracks like Diet Pepsi, Headphones On, and Fame Is a Gun. Her set was short and sweet, much like her onstage presence. It was playful and light, with minimal yet camp choreography that kept the crowd entertained while we waited for Mrs Del Rey to hit the stage.
One thing I’ll always applaud is Del Rey’s creativity. The set design perfectly matched her dreamy Americana aesthetic — a Southern-style country house nestled among trees, capturing her current country-era vibe. Her signature swing made an appearance (iconic during Video Games), and the use of a green screen added visuals between songs.
The show opened with an unreleased song, Stars Fell on Alabama followed by a newer track, Henry, Come On. As much as I love Del Rey, starting with unfamiliar material wasn’t the strongest choice. The audience felt a bit disconnected, and when you’re opening a show, you want to strike them immediately. Next came a cover of Stand by Your Man, which again left me having some doubts. She has eight albums worth of material — I’m still wondering why she chose to replace fan favourites with covers that few people knew.
Thankfully, things picked up with Chemtrails Over the Country Club. The energy shift was instant — the crowd was finally singing along, and Del Rey’s unmatchable harmonies reminded us exactly why we fell in love with her back in 2012. Then came that unforgettable moment: the electric guitar intro of Ultraviolence. The crowd went wild, and from that point, the concert truly came alive.
Emotions were high. The atmosphere was radiant. Del Rey looked and sounded stunning, fully proving her superstar status. She followed with fan favourites Ride and Video Games, two of her most celebrated tracks. I won’t lie — I was holding back tears (thank God for sunglasses). For someone once seen as an “alternative” artist, performing to a sold-out Wembley is nothing short of legendary.
After that emotional high, two songs were played via hologram while Del Rey was offstage. Her backup singers kept the audience engaged, but I can’t say I was a fan of this moment. As much as I love Lana, the holograms felt flat. It would’ve been far more powerful to hear her perform Norman Fucking Rockwell and Arcadia live. The visual trick just didn’t land for me — it came across as disconnected, and frankly, a little lazy.
Thankfully, she bounced back quickly with the only song from her latest album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. Backed by her majestic-sounding vocalists, it was one of the more surprisingly striking moments of the night.
Then came what I’d call my highlight: Young and Beautiful, Summertime Sadness, Born to Die, and Venice Bitch. These back-to-back classics transported me to a time when life felt freer, innocent, and unbothered. It’s magical how Del Rey can stir that kind of nostalgia so effortlessly.
Then came a moment that absolutely deserves its own spotlight: Del Rey singing Diet Pepsi with Addison Rae. The crowd erupted. It was surreal and iconic, the kind of unexpected pop culture crossover that’ll be remembered for years. They followed it up with 57.5, another unreleased song they dueted on that kept the energy going.
The show closed with another cover: Take Me Home, Country Roads. A soft, sentimental end, though, again, I personally would have preferred one of her own tracks to close out such a significant night for her career.
There’s no doubt that Lana Del Rey is one of the most important songwriters of our generation. Her artistry, her aesthetic, her ability to transform and connect — it’s all still magnetic. But I do think she needs to reassess how a stadium show should be structured. When she performs songs her audience knows and loves, it’s electric. But when the set leans too heavily on unreleased material and covers, it risks leaving fans behind. That said, I’d never take away from her achievements. Selling out Wembley? That’s legacy-defining — and she’s earned every bit of it.
Long live Lana Del Rey.
Rating - 3/5
Listen to Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
