Review

Review

The Lumineers at Hoxton Hall, 17/01/25

The alternative folk giants take over Hoxton Hall for an intimate gig in support of War Child


We’ve come a long way from 2012. Thirteen years on from The Lumineers’ emergence into the mainstream conscious, and a lot has changed. Given the success the band subsequently experienced, I can’t imagine playing a venue as small as this was part of their thinking. But this was a special show, for a special cause, and it needed a unique setting. 

Walking in to Hoxton Hall, you’re immediately struck by its grandeur. Surrounded by two iron-railed balconies, accompanied by a massive ceiling and small stage, it is at once both incredibly intimate and bigger than it seems. It’s a sentiment shared by the first act of the night, Michael Marcagi, who is in awe of the stage on which he finds himself, telling us that he feels like he’s in Harry Potter, before joking that he’s more nervous for this show than the one the night before at The Forum. Not that he shows it, as he performs his own brand of americana-infused folk. Joined on stage by mandolin player Kyle Emerson, it’s stripped-back and bare, perhaps how these songs should be. We’re treated to new release ‘Midwest Kid’, alongside tracks from his American Romance EP. He concludes with his two biggest singles, ‘The Other Side’ and TikTok hit ‘Scared To Start’. It is only a taste of what is to come, but the crowd are certainly warmed up. 

The next person to grace the stage is not The Lumineers, as many were expecting. Instead, War Child CEO Rob Williams appears, reminding us of all of the vital work the charity undertakes, and the real reason why we’re here in the first place. When they do indeed appear, Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites appear to rapturous applause, and a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for Fraites. There would be no backing band, no extra bandmates – frankly there was no need.

Tonight is a combination of band and venue that at first glance feels as if it shouldn’t be happening; last time they were in town, they played their biggest-ever UK show. To now be playing in front of 300 people isn’t normal. Nor did it feel it. War Child’s concert series has often brought bands into small venues for special nights. This one may be towards the top of that list, though. The crowd knew it, too. This was an audience who couldn’t believe their luck. A sense of surprise that, yes, this was really happening had been bubbling away since the doors were open. Only to be quickly replaced by a sense of euphoria that, yes, this was really happening.

‘Cleopatra’ started us off strong, but tonight wasn’t simply about re-living the heady days of the early 2010’s. Classic tracks were mixed in with new material – we were hearing songs in their infancy, as Schultz put it. Alongside the tried-and-tested, it made for an incredible mix. The band, and Schultz in particular, told stories like they knew each and every one of us, the sort you’d expect to hear at a dinner party. Given the size of crowds he’s used to, it probably felt like one. The crowd also took the intimate nature of the night to their advantage, shouting out song requests. The band obliged for ‘Donna’, and in response the audience were loud in demonstrating their enthusiasm. “Good thing he called out a song we know” Fraites joked. A few more new ones changed the pace with piano ballad ‘Automatic’, in particular, proving to be an unexpected highlight. But the energy was now building inside the hall. Slow tracks could only cut it for so long. So, with minimal fuss and no introduction, ‘Ophelia’ was plucked from the set list. It satiated the crowd. There was not a single person who didn’t know every word. 

From then on it was celebratory. Despite their insistence that this would not be a night full of requests, ‘A.M. Radio’ was played at the behest of one audience member, as was ‘Dead Sea’ which followed. But who cares if the plan went out the window, we were having fun. The crowd, by now, had more than found their voice, with Schultz using it as an opportunity to pit the various sections of Hoxton Hall against each other. Balconies vs floor. It was hard to say who won. ‘Stubborn Love’, another request, would bring it all to an end, but what an end. Even the usually reserved balconies were dancing. There were smiles all around, although perhaps none more so than on the band’s faces. They’d certainly enjoyed themselves. You’d be hard pressed not to. “It feels like we’ve just told you a secret” Schultz told us before he left the stage, and he was right, it really did. The entire evening felt like we’d been let in on one big secret, with no-one but ourselves to share it with – how could you possibly explain what we’d all just seen in a small theatre in Hackney?


The Lumineers return to UK stages in May. Find tickets here