Kalandra and Lili Refrain at Lafayette, London 2024

Lili Refrain

Lili Refrain opened the evening at London’s stunning and conveniently air-conditioned Lafayette, setting the perfect tone for what would become an unforgettable night. She instantly captured the audience’s attention, and we were more than ready to dive into her unique sound. While I had listened to her music beforehand, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from a live show, yet what I witnessed was nothing short of exceptional.

As a one woman powerhouse, Lili uses loop pedals (of which she gingerly offered a demo) to layer sounds and instruments, building her show one element at a time. It’s like watching a Russian doll in reverse, with each later adding more depth and complexity. The way she constructs it all in real time creates a hypnotic atmosphere that drew me in completely. The audience too appeared transfixed, moving together as if Lili’s drums had cast a spell over them. Some danced, some headbanged, and others simply closed their eyes, letting the vibrations take over. The entire performance had a ritualistic quality and it truly made me feel both whole in solitude and as if I were part of something bigger at the same time.

Kalandra

Kalandra’s live performance on their A Frame on Mind tour turned out to be a bit of an emotional revelation. While the album of the tour’s namesake had subtly worked its way into my heart, Kalandra’s live show immediately bewitched me, pulling me into the depths of their raw, heartfelt expression. Kalandra don’t just perform, they lay bare their emotions, and I’m certain the audience got drawn into that vulnerability from the first note. Lead singer Katrine, stood with teary eyes as she delivered “The State of the World” with the full weight of its message regarding our troubled reality, a weight that resonated deeply with everyone in the room.

Blurring the musical boundaries between prog rock, pop, and Nordic folk, Kalandra can’t help but make their hard-to-classify sound compelling in this live setting. It’s a unique intersection of genres they entirely own, filled with textures and rhythms that often defy expectations. The magic that Kalandra create on stage, despite not having a bass player, is stunning. The fullness of their ethereal sound, the way it envelops the audience and soars through the venue, feels almost otherworldly to the point where I believe Kalandra’s music exists in its own dimension, a space where sound and emotion meet to form something transcendent.

A blend of old and new, Kalandra’s setlist contained bits of their songs in English and in Norwegian to ensure that the audience could find a connecting moment. Whether an old favourite for an established fan or a fresh cut for the recently initiated, the crowd found a way to feel each as deeply as Kalandra did. Having sold out their London show and most merchandise, Kalandra’s members seemed genuinely moved by the love and support they received and projected a profound sense of gratitude throughout the night. A reminder to live in the present, to find peace in the now and cling to hope for a better future, Kalandra reinforced their clear message — in Katrine’s voice, in her gaze at the crowd, and in every note that the collective played. Kalandra showed up not as performers but creators of a space where we all could find solace and reflect on what matters most.