Arctic Monkeys at Emirates Stadium

Saturday evening, world-renowned rock band Arctic Monkeys played an electrifying second night of their three-night London residency at Emirates Stadium as a part of their UK and Ireland tour. The Sheffield group performed to a sold-out stadium packed full of fans eager to hear one of the most sought-after indie rock bands in the world play a collection of their most popular songs spanning their 17-year career.

The famed four-piece gave the crowd exactly what they’ve been yearning for during the five years since their last tour in 2018. A hit-packed setlist made for a wild night, with the entire venue on their feet dancing and singing along to each and every song for the duration of the gig.

Frontman Alex Turner had the crowd wrapped around his finger, as he strutted around the stage singing older hits such as Teddy Picker and Crying Lightning at a newfound eloquent tempo all his own, aligning with the vibes of their newest release, The Car (2022). Though this new performance style is laid-back compared to that of pre-Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino (2018), Turner still had the audience in the palm of his hand.

Fan favourites of the night included songs such as Fluorescent Adolescent and 505 off of their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), as well as songs off of their 2013 hit record AM: Snap Out of It, Arabella, and Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High. The highlight of the night was during There’d Better Be a Mirrorball, the single from their latest album, when a massive mirrorball equipped with a neon sign that read “Monkeys”, dropped from the ceiling and illuminated the entirety of the stadium in a 70s-esque glow.

The decision to play mainly their older releases on this tour was a bold, but imperative decision on the band’s part, as their last two albums were met with great controversy due to the group taking a different creative route than the fans were used to with their quintessential indie rock albums such as AM (2013) and Humbug (2009). The only song from Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino (2018) performed at Saturday’s set was Four Out of Five.

With the re-emergence of all of the band’s greatest hits played live for their fans, the Arctic Monkeys gave their all to the entirety of Emirates Stadium and left their fans on a high note with an incredible encore consisting of I Wanna Be Yours, I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor, and R U Mine?, all of which indeed left the crowd on cloud nine and in a 70s mirrorball haze.

Kirst Hubbard
Photos: Mike Garnell

For further information and future events visit Arctic Monkeys’s website here.

Watch the video for the single There’d Better Be a Mirrorball here: