Wolf Alice headlined the final night of Newcastle's In The Park festival on Sunday, delivering a triumphant set that included a song dedication to local hero Dan Burn. The Mercury Prize-winning band closed the three-day event at Exhibition Park, with lead singer Ellie Rowsell setting a high bar after England's World Cup quarter-final win against Norway sparked celebrations across the city the previous night.
Festival Weekend Overview
The weekend saw a lineup of major acts, with Lewis Capaldi opening the festival on Wednesday, Paul Weller headlining Friday, and a star-studded support cast each night. Ten miles away, the Mouth of the Tyne Festival brought Ministry of Sound Classical, Self Esteem, and James to Tynemouth Castle Priory. Despite overcrowding complaints on the opening night—which Newcastle City Council refuted—the issues had been resolved by Sunday.
Arriving just after 7pm, temperatures had dropped from the previous week's heatwave, creating a relaxed atmosphere for the crowd lounging on the grass. Wolf Alice took the stage at 8pm sharp, opening with 'Bloom Baby Bloom' and immediately challenging the audience to surpass the energy of Saturday's celebrations.
Setlist Highlights
The early part of the set focused on tracks from their fourth album 'The Clearing,' a nominee for the 2025 Mercury Prize. The band performed fan favorites including 'White Horses,' 'Passenger Seat'—dedicated to anyone who can't drive, much like Rowsell herself—and 'Leaning Against The Wall.' Bassist Theo Ellis roused the crowd before the early hit 'Bros,' declaring: 'Are you ready to f***ing have it?! We're dedicating this song to Dan Burn, all you motherf*****s jump up and down.'
The energy dipped for 'How Can I Make It Okay?', with Ellis calling Exhibition Park a 'beautiful park in a beautiful city.' The tempo then surged as Rowsell grabbed a megaphone for 'Yuk Foo' and 'Play the Greatest Hits,' two tracks that appeared to be as fun to perform as they were to create.
Encore and Closing
The set ended with a four-song encore featuring early favorites from 'My Love is Cool,' including a cover of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit.' Instead of leaving the stage, the band launched into 'Three Lions' as a black-and-white flag bearing the band's image appeared. The musicians lost their instruments and danced together, suggesting their Sunday ended much like Saturday—in celebration.
'I had a very, very good night out in the Toon last night, let's try and beat it tonight!' Rowsell had said earlier, reflecting the weekend's festive spirit. Whether Sunday surpassed Saturday remains unknown, but Wolf Alice's performance provided a brilliant close to this year's In The Park festival.
