While there was little audience interaction, with the only instance being the lead singer – Lily Fontaine – asking if we were enjoying the show and something along the lines of “how are you doing tonight, Brighton?”, this did not lead to a lack of stage presence in the slightest.

words & photos by Hannah Rudrum 

From the moment they came on stage, the crowd of around 900 were enamoured, with audience members holding their arms in the air and dancing throughout the show. The band had a way of keeping us engaged through their performance, despite the limited interaction; whether that was through their dancing while they performed, the dramatic changes to different instruments between songs (with Lily frequently switching to the keys, guitar, or vocals only), or even simply the lighting – whatever it was, it kept the audience engaged and having fun. 

The band played a mix of both old and new music, with their encore being a couple songs from their 2022 EP ‘Polyawkward’). They also played a new, unreleased song called ‘toothpick’, which the crowd loved. 

Having not listened to English Teacher before, I wasn’t really sure what to expect nor if I would like it, but I have to say that was a very enjoyable concert, and I will definitely be relistening to everything on that set list – and really all their music – soon. For now, based on the concert, my favourite song I heard has to be either “Not everybody gets to go to space” (which brought me to tears, expected of a girl doing a sociology degree with this topic), or “Albatross”.