Words by Alex Frances

Photo by Alex Frances

The last time I saw Flyte live was 9 years ago, the summer before embarking on those transformative University years. They played at a small venue known as The George Tavern in Shadwell, its 150-cap venue sheltering Flyte fans from all walks of life – from the business bros in gilets attending a post-work show with a pint in hand, to the eager, just-turned-18-year-old girl, who finally got the freedom to attend shows across London without parental chaperoning. 

Nine years ago, Flyte commanded the quietness of that space with ease in the cherished space of The George. They had yet to release their first album ‘The Loved Ones’, but loved they were. Memories of post-show chats with the band are hazy but tangible, and since then they’ve released four albums, and are currently touring their newest album ‘Between You and Me’. I caught their final UK show on Friday, September 26th, at the Kentish Town Forum, completely unaware how special this show would turn out to be.

Lumï opened the show, a duo from the Netherlands that is building its fan base through vocal harmony videos on TikTok and Instagram. The duo was accompanied by an acoustic guitarist and keyboard player, and performed six tracks that ranged from stripped-down to synth-heavy songs, enveloping the crowd with their warmth and harmony. With only one song released on streaming platforms, Lumï’s repertoire of tracks is soothing to the audience. Their final song, with the lyrics ‘can’t seem to drown it out’ on repeat, echoed through the forum, with the heavy wash of synths perfectly complementing their soulful vocals. 

Elanor Moss (solo) follows Lumï’s set, her tracks taking us back into the past: of the Gaslight Cafe in the 60s, of Bob and Joni, of New York winters. Moss, hailing from Yorkshire, worked the crowd to a bone; echoes of fragility throughout each song. Her vocals resonated throughout the hall, and each moment between songs became an integral part of the performance. From tuning her guitar, reminding me of how the orchestra tunes before a performance, to tales of her antics on the road with Flyte, Moss’ vulnerability and warmth were apparent in both her music and crowdwork. A well-suited cover of Joni Mitchell’s Cactus Tree lit up the audience, and you realise that Elanor could command a room of 20 or 2000 people easily. 

As Moss’s set finished, The Forum had filled almost to capacity, and eager Flyte fans waited for Will Taylor and Nicholas Hill to grace the stage. I don’t think we were prepared for what they had to offer for their final show of the UK tour. The team, made up of Roy Lowe on Drums, William Blackaby on Keys, Guitar and vocals, and Her Ensemble on strings, came out on stage to fans screaming in the front row. Elanor Moss (intimately dubbed Ellie on the setlist) joined the band and opened the set with two songs, nestled between Taylor and Hill on guitar (Emily and Me and Losing You) before heading off stage. As I run around the photo pit, you can see the way the crowd stares up at Flyte, enamoured at the folk-laden tunes that Taylor and Hill breathe life into. ‘Even on Bad Days’ and ‘Hurt People’ followed as strings accompanied the band, and Ellie joined back on stage for ‘Alabaster’, taking over from Amiee Mann’s original vocals on the new album. The crowd cheers as Will Taylor attacks the strings of his guitar, conveying the very apocalyptic feel of the track, distorted fuzz ringing through the crowd as Moss echoes ‘it’s a natural disaster’ between Taylor’s intended breakdown. 

As I’ve finished my time in the photo pit, I start bumping into some familiar faces backstage. Jacob Alon (2025 Mercury Prize nominee) joins Flye for their track ‘Perfect Dark’, a favourite of mine from their 3rd album. Alon’s voice perfectly pairs with Taylor’s on the line ‘by the low moon of a bedroom, making shadows’, followed by ‘Everyone’s A Winner’. As I stand towards the back of the crowd, I note the number of couples swaying along to tracks, heads held close and small whispers shared between pauses in the songs. Flyte’s music expertly evokes feelings of days gone past, Woodstock ‘69, the early days of Glastonbury, and a time solely for music. 

Billie Marten joins the stage next for ‘I’m Not There’ and the whole show begins to remind me of The Last Waltz by The Band, an iconic collaborative show released in 1978 featuring a dozen or so special guests from all over the music industry (Rick Danko, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, etc). I couldn’t help but wonder who else they might bring out during the show. It was at this moment that out popped Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club (if you were standing next to me at this moment, I’m so sorry for my very loud swearing). Jack joined them for their track ‘Defender’, a heartfelt look into supporting a loved one struggling with mental health, with Billie placed in the corner of the stage, high up on a platform overlooking the band. Their final guest, Maddie Ashman, delicately placed between Taylor and Hill, added her virtuosic guitar playing to their song ‘Hello Sunshine. As we neared the end of the show, Flyte performed their rendition of ‘Archie, Marry Me’ – the four vocalists (Taylor, Hill, Lowe and Blackaby) centred around two microphones as the classic ‘Flyte shushes came from the crowd. We watched in silence, and something felt incredibly full circle as I caught the boys playing the track that one could argue pushed them into the limelight back in 2017. The encore crept up quickly, finishing off the show with all of Flyte’s guests joining them on stage for their final song Speech Bubble. There’s a special feeling throughout the crowd, and we know we won’t experience something like this again for a long time. 

Photos by Alex Frances