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Livesphere is an online music magazine led by a female collective united by the love of music, dedicated to bringing you the latest music news, reviews, live photos and insights, predominantly in London and the UK as well as throughout Europe. Whether you're a fan of rock, metal, alternative, pop, or indie, we’ve got you covered with in-depth features on artists, album releases, concert reviews, and interviews.

And don’t forget to check out the Live Events section to stay updated on what’s to come!

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LIVE reviews

ROSALÍA | THE O2 ARENA, LONDON | 5 MAY

NEW!

Rosalía returned to London for two sold-out dates at The O2 Arena on the 5th and 6th of May for her LUX Tour, marking her first performance in the capital since the MOTOMAMI World Tour over three years ago. While she made a massive impression back then by redefining the "visual language" of arena concerts, these two tours represent two distinct eras for the 33-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter, shifting from industrial reggaeton to a full symphonic orchestra. If the gap between these two worlds seems drastic, it certainly did not disappoint the fans; Rosalía has returned stronger, with a vision bigger than life itself.

At 8:40 PM, the arena plunged into Rosalía’s world for the remainder of the night. Accompanied by the Heritage Orchestra, the gig felt like an orchestrated theatrical play divided into four distinct acts: The Descent, The Club, The Sacred, and The Celebration. This structure, choreographed in collaboration with the acclaimed French collective (LA)HORDE, showcased an impressive versatility while maintaining a clear storyline centered on the theme of Light.

The focus was set on her latest album, LUX (released in November 2025), which has marked a significant turning point in the music industry. The Spanish singer delivered a pure work of art, blending an expansive range of genres, singing in no fewer than 13 languages, and paying tribute to her flamenco roots. While the album represents a radical shift from MOTOMAMI, the blend of both eras on stage felt entirely cohesive.

RICK ASTLEY | THE O2 ARENA, LONDON | 25 APRIL

NEW!

‘‘Nice to hear some cheers…means I’ve still got it“ Astley shouted three songs into the final night of his 12-date UK and Ireland Reflection Tour. The show at The O2 on April 25th concluded the run with a triumphant finale. British singer-songwriter Rick Astley, who reached number one in 25 countries with his 1987 smash hit ‘Never Gonna Give You Up‘ and celebrated his musical comeback in the early 2000s, shows no signs of slowing down again anytime soon. The crowd was on its feet all night, cheering and dancing to classic 80s hits as well as newer material.

Early in the set, Astley even performed a cover of RAYE’s ‘Where’s My Husband‘, playing the drums while giving his backing vocalists a chance to shine vocally. That moment showed how comfortably he still fits within the current musical landscape.

One thing that became immediately clear when watching Astley live is what an amazing entertainer he still is to this day. He draws the crowd into the performance with ease, sharing stories about his songs and career, encouraging the audience to dance and sing while delivering his stories with an almost comedic element. Throughout the night, he promised the crowd plenty of 80s classics and he kept that promise. Even the British singer-songwriter’s newer material was met with enthusiasm from the crowd. Before performing his 1991 hit ‘Cry For Help‘ Astley asked the audience ‘‘Do you like a little gospel singing? You’re about to get some. We’ll give it to them then.“

ALBUM reviews

SOFTCULT - WHEN A FLOWER DOESN’T GROW | 28 JANUARY

For Softcult, twin sisters Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn, moving from a few short EPs to a full-length album feels like finally getting to tell the whole story. While their early singles were quick snapshots of emotions, a debut album is the first time the siblings have the space to really open up.

On their debut full-length When A Flower Doesn't Grow, the siblings deliver Softcult’s most unflinching work to date. Born from a period of personal upheaval, the album explores the path from trauma to liberation, anchored by a central philosophy: “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” The album’s title is a nod to the environmental and social factors that stunt personal growth. Throughout the tracklist, the sisters tackle heavy themes with a blend of empathy and righteous anger: predatory behaviour, gaslighting and empowerment.

After years of testing out their sound and finding their voice, this record is where everything finally clicks. Produced by the band themselves, the production on this record is a massive step forward. It retains the shimmering textures of Cocteau Twins and the crushing, reverb-soaked weight of My Bloody Valentine, but there is a new "cleanliness" to the melodies that allows Mercedes’ vocals to pierce through the atmosphere and make the Softcult sound truly their own.

The album’s title is a nod to the environmental and social factors that stunt personal growth. Throughout the tracklist, the sisters tackle heavy themes with a blend of empathy and righteous anger: predatory behaviour, gaslighting and empowerment.

After a brief, soft intro track, the album opens up with the single ‘Pill To Swallow’ setting the stage with a masterclass in the "spiritual grunge" sound that the Arn-Horn siblings have pioneered: an immersive blend of shoegaze textures and 90s alt-rock grit.

CHARLOTTE SANDS - SATELLITE | 6 MARCH

NEW!

With her distinct blue hair and a Y2K meets modern alt edge, Charlotte Sands has become a fearless force in alt-pop. On her sophomore album, SATELLITE, she sharpens her genre-blurring sound into soaring, diaristic anthems built for cathartic, sold-out show singalongs that feel intensely personal yet universal.

When the album was announced, Charlotte let us know how personal an album it was. “‘Satellite’ was born from a search for meaning, identity, and self worth,” she said. “It’s a collection of moments from the last two years of my life - the highs and lows, the joy and the grief. It’s about drifting, discovering, questioning your purpose, and learning to trust the quiet pull that brings you back to yourself.”

And so begins the bold, high-energy world of SATELLITE.

The album opens with the title track ‘Satellite’, two minutes and 36 seconds of pure perfection. With those signature vocals on display with a somewhat eerie backdrop, it carefully builds the anticipation for what to expect from this collection of songs wrapped up as an album. As ‘satellite’ closes, it leads into ‘one eye open’ and listeners are immediately confronted with the distinct possibility that the listening experience will get better with each track.

When ‘one eye open’ was released as a single late last year, listeners were promised a track that showcases Charlotte's mix of emotional intensity and arena-ready hooks. It did not disappoint. 

THIS WEEK’S FAVOURITE TRACK

We can’t get enough of Honey Revenge’s catchy new single ‘Hot Commodity’.

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We are an inclusive, independent, non-profit publication led by a female collective launched out of sheer passion for live music and all things music related.

Executive Editor and Photographer: Florelle Servageon

Contact: florelle@livesphere-magazine.com

Editor and Photographer: Eva Grant

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Lead Writer & Photographer: Imogen Bird

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Contact: platform96events@gmail.com

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