AlunaGeorge at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

27^th October 2013

Gemma Whitfield

Gemma Whitfield

27 October 2013

Electronic duo Aluna Francis and George Reid met in 2009 when Reid remixed Sweetheart by Francis’ then band My Toys Like Me. Fusing together to create AlunaGeorge, the pair have been shortlisted for the 2013 Brit Awards and came second in the BBC’s Sound of 2013 poll. They are currently taking the world by storm with huge electronic dance tracks Attracting Flies, You Know You Like It, Your Drums Your Love and their collaboration with Disclosure for the massive hit White Noise.

The atmosphere in the Shepherd’s Bush Empire is mellow, yet there’s a buzz of excitement – this crowd have joined together in their love of electronic music, and where better than at an AlunaGeorge gig? There are whoops and cheers as Francis and Reid enter the stage, followed by their drummer and bassist, opening the set with Just a Touch.

Francis paces the stage, dancing and encouraging the audience to sing with her. There’s high enthusiasm from the crowd as Reid pounds away at the keys of a retro Roland synthesiser; Aluna’s characteristic childlike vocals compliment the buzzes, hums and blips of the synths and the rhythmic drum pads. The pair’s new single Best Be Believing is excellently received, eliciting an echoing of Aluna’s hooky lyrics:. “Best be believing, nah nah nah nah”. Less recognisable material such as Outlines, Kaleidoscope Love and Interlude generate a lukewarm response, but the crowd go wild as soon as they hear the opening synth melodies for the big hits such as Attractive Flies.

The two perform an electronic, futuristic cover of Montell Jordan’s This Is How We Do It – a real crowd pleaser that has every body in the Empire moving. But the highlight of the night has to be their cover of Disclosure’s hit single White Noise that really raises the roof with not a single person not singing along.  

The night concludes with an energetic performance of Your Drums, Your Love, leaving the audience pouring out on to the streets of Shepherd’s Bush still singing and dancing. AlunaGeorge knows how to work the crowd and put on a spectacular show, which they’ve certainly done tonight. This truly is Body Music.

Gemma Whitfield
Photo: Greg Chow

For further information and future events visit AlunaGeorge’s website here.

Watch the video for Attracting Flies here: