Charli XCX opened her Music, Fashion, Film tour in Philadelphia last night, and she made it count. The show included a live debut, an oldie, and a surprise guest from the electronic scene.
Persona Gets Its First Live Performance
Charli performed “Persona” live for the first time. She also pulled out her debut major label single, “Stay Away,” for the first time in four years. “Performing this song makes me emotional,” Charli tweeted today about the latter. “This song came out in 2011. I was a baby.”
The setlist ran deep, and the crowd got a mix of new material and classics.
Underscores Joins the Stage
During the set, Charli brought out opener Underscores to perform the electronic artist’s U cut “Do It.” Underscores had to cancel her own planned shows to join this tour.
The collaboration added a fresh sound to the evening. Charli recently wrote that the vibe for this tour is “50% party, 50% existential crisis.”
The Setlist Runs From Rock Music to SS26
The show moved through tracks from across her career. It opened with “Rock Music” and “Yeah,” and closed with “No One Lasts Forever.”
Highlights included “I’m Afraid,” “pink diamond,” “Stay Away,” and “365” featuring Shygirl. The set also featured “Do It” with Underscores, plus “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish, “Camera,” and “2007.”
Charli Explains Why the Run Is Short
Charli announced 2027 UK/Europe shows with Audrey Hobert on Thursday. There won’t be many, and she jumped into her Instagram comments to address disappointed fans.
“I know there’s a lot of frustration in the comments about the fact that I am not doing lots of dates,” she wrote. “I am really sorry if you feel disappointed but I have to honor my truth as an artist: touring is really emotionally and physically hard for me.”
She added that she respects artists who can handle long, intense runs but admitted, “I am just not one of those human beings and I never have been.”
Pre-Sale Starts Wednesday
Pre-sale tickets for the 2027 shows go on sale on Wednesday.
What We Made of It
This was a strong start to a big tour. Charli took risks by performing songs that had never been heard live before, and she brought a rising act onto the stage alongside her.
The setlist showed range, moving from early hits to recent tracks. The addition of Underscores gave the show a modern edge.
The tour is still young. Whether the momentum holds across the pond remains to be seen.
KEY FACTS BOX
– “Persona” debuted live for the first time
– “Stay Away” performed live for the first time in four years
– Underscores joined the stage for “Do It”
– 2027 UK/Europe shows with Audrey Hobert announced
– Pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday
Charli XCX knows her limits. She honored them last night.
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