For the coveted Saturday night slot Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall, electronic music’s most iconic duo The Chemical Brothers, aka Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands, made the Royal Albert Hall their own. With a spectacular 3D light show, colossal dancing robots, dazzling animations throughout with plenty of strobes and searchlights, the sold-out crowd were completely immersed throughout the mammoth set. Support came from DJ James Holroyd, who entertained audiences for almost 2-hours before the main event.
Tonight, Teenage Cancer Trust marked the final night of The Chemical Brothers’ For That Beautiful Feeling tour and they are ending on the ultimate high. The duo went hard from the start, opening with the unmistakable banger ‘Go,’ straight into ‘Do It Again,’ ‘Get Yourself High,’ and ‘Mad As Hell,’ peppering in hits like ‘Swoon,’ ‘Eve of Destruction’ featuring the vocals of AURORA, and anthems such as ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ and ‘Let Forever Be’. The crowd was bathed in light as the driving bass and synth reached a breathtaking conclusion with globally loved tunes ‘Galvanize’ and ‘Block Rockin Beats’. As it’s a Saturday night, The Chemical Brothers gave the crowd one last surprise with an incredible encore featuring ‘No Geography,’ ‘Darkness That You Feel’ and ending on the iconic ‘The Private Psychedelic Reel’, from their 1997 second album Dig Your Own Hole.
The multi-platinum selling, multi-award winning pair are unarguably one of the most influential electronic acts of all time and tonight was a reminder that they’re still on top.
Last night’s show was part of a momentous week, celebrating the work of rock legend Roger Daltrey, founder and curator of the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs, as he bows out as the driving force of these very special concerts.
The Who singer, who will continue as a Teenage Cancer Trust Honorary Patron, has tirelessly fundraised and advocated for the charity for nearly a quarter of a century. A key part of this has been Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall, the now iconic, annual concert series taking place at one of the world’s most prestigious concert venues.
Closing the week tonight (Sunday 24 March) is ‘Ovation - A Celebration of 24 Years of Gigs For Teenage Cancer Trust’, a show featuring Roger Daltrey’s friends and fans, many of those who helped establish these gigs as a celebrated annual event: Roger himself, with Kelly Jones, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller.
For 22 editions, Roger Daltrey has persuaded some of the greatest artists on the planet to perform unique, one night only gigs to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust, generating over £32 million from ticket sales alone and spreading word of this extraordinary charity far and wide. That money is enough to pay for over a million hours of specialist care from Teenage Cancer Trust nurses, or 13 Teenage Cancer Trust hospital units. In 2000, when the gigs began, Teenage Cancer Trust was a much smaller organisation with only 5 hospital units across the whole of the UK and far fewer nurses and youth support workers.
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer. Since 2000, over £32 million has been raised by Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, and that money has helped fund specialist nurses, hospital units and support services right across the UK that help get young people through some unimaginably hard times.
Roger Daltrey CBE, Teenage Cancer Trust Honorary Patron, and mastermind behind the gigs for 24 years, said:
“The generosity of the people who work in the music and comedy industries never ceases to amaze me. In this, our 21st year, after two years of artists having no shows at all, at a time where the only certain paydays are from live performances, artists are willing to give up their earnings from a London show. It shows us that miracles are everywhere, but if you cough or sneeze you'd miss them!”
Katie Collins, Chief Executive, Teenage Cancer Trust, said:
“These amazing gigs and their fantastic lineups help us change lives. Because of Roger, the artists, the teams who make these gigs possible and everyone who buys a ticket, we can make sure young people don’t face cancer alone and continue to provide the vital, expert care and support that is crucial for young people with cancer.”
2024 Show Dates:
Mon 18 March - The Who with Orchestra, with special guests Squeeze
Tue 19 March - A Night Of Comedy - Kevin Bridges (host), Rob Beckett, Paul Chowdhry, Joe Lycett, Joanne McNally, Seann Walsh
Weds 20 March - The Who with Orchestra, with special guests Squeeze
Thurs 21 March - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, with special guests Blossoms
Fri 22 March - Young Fathers plus special guests
Sat 23 March - The Chemical Brothers
Sun 24 March - ‘Ovation’ - A Celebration of 24 Years of Gigs For Teenage Cancer Trust with: Roger Daltrey, Kelly Jones, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Eddie Vedder, Paul Weller
