Angus and Julia Stone at the Royal Albert Hall

On this cold and windy London summer evening, Australian siblings Angus and Julia Stone grace the stage with their sweet and gentle folk rock.

Having last performed in the capital around seven years ago, it is no wonder their entrance produces jubilant cheers from fans. The pair face each other, starting off with Santa Monica Dream in the pin-drop silence. As is commonplace with concerts of this genre, the remaining supporting musicians join on stage for the second track onwards. Tonight’s stage design is adorned with lanterns illuminating a kaleidoscopic array of colours, amongst large lamps. The duo are humbled to be performing in this highly esteemed venue, and reminisce about their first record deal in London, moving to the capital and their impressive accomplishments. Julia gives an anecdote about how she loves Yellow Brick Road so much so, it’s tattooed on her foot. Beautifully rendered, the harmonica adds a beautiful Americana style, a highlight for sure. With Nothing Else, Julia plays the trumpet, a gorgeous surprise, almost impossible to put into words how stunning.

Angus and Julia know how to hold their audience with funny little tales in between tracks that have fellow Australian fans chiming in. Another highlight to note is an exquisite rendition of Flowers by Miley Cyrus, arguably even more affecting than the original, Angus whistling the intro, a deeply moving cover.

The majority of the set involves straw brushes on drums, producing the hushed lilting acoustics the artists are known for, carried by their wispy serene vocals. Band member Jonathan is striking on the banjo, which has its main character moments, along with the trumpet and harmonica. One of the integral elements that makes this performance so wonderful, is the absolute adoration, love and wholesome respect Angus and Julia have for each other; he calls her a “magical creature” and a “bloody legend”, and she states, “I wouldn’t be here without this extraordinary man beside me.”

Giving a chance to their many fans to be a part of the music video for The Wedding Song, the pair received hundreds of recordings from couples all over the world, curating 80 from approximately 800. They were also picked to create a song for the Life is Strange video game; Love Song launches with extraterrestrial beeping sounds, giving a clear indication of the Stones’s versatility.

The finale is made up of another major highlight, Big Jet Plane, shimmering guitars backing finely tuned vocals, while the rest of the band and support acts join for the encore, in Neil Young’s Harvest Moon, each artist incredibly talented.

If, like many, you have waited a long while to see the sibling duo live, it was well worth the wait.

Selina Begum
Photos: Guifre de Peray

For further information and future events visit Angus and Julia Stone’s website here.

Watch the video for the single here: