Lily Allen Performs West End Girl
Madison Square Garden, NYC | SEptember 3, 2026
Sarah Walsh
On September 3rd, Lily Allen performs West End Girl took to Madison Square Garden for one night only. The show was listed to start at 8:00 PM, and Allen did not grace the stage until 9:20.
The opening act consisted of 6 cellists playing Allen’s back catalog of hits. Lyrics appeared on the screen so that the audience could participate in group karaoke. The crowd responded loudly to “Smile” and “F**k You,” which ended the set.
The performance area donned a shimmering blue curtain designed to look like a theatrical stage. After the first two numbers, the curtain opened to reveal an apartment set that was used in a variety of creative ways for the rest of the show.
West End Girl is a chronological story detailing the disastrous end to a marriage. It is allegedly about the high-profile relationship between Allen and her ex-husband, Stranger Things star, David Harbour.
Due to the conceptual nature of the album, Allen decides to forgo the old hits, and she instead plays the album from top to bottom. She does not interact with the audience to maintain the theatrical illusion of the show. The show is approximately 50-55 minutes in length.
The performance as a whole was spectacular. Allen’s relaxed stage presence is a nice contrast to the high-energy personas most pop stars put on. A particular moment that stood out was her live rendition of “Relapse.” While it is a track that can be overlooked on the studio album, Allen’s performance of the song became an unforgettable moment of the night. Her acting was emotional and raw, bringing the message of the song to the forefront. It was like watching the moment that inspired the song in real time. Other standouts include “Tennis,” “Madeline,” “P***y Palace,” “4Chan Stan,” and “Nonmanongamummy.”
Just like Allen’s songwriting, the concert was direct and tongue-in-cheek. An immediate moment that pops to mind is when Allen puts on a heart-shaped apron that reads “cuck” to perform “Nonmanogamummy.” This is the complex female character that everyone has been asking for: painfully self-aware and completely oblivious at the same time. The audience roars with laughter and cheers, not because they applaud her behavior, but because they understand her flaws and see themselves in the character she’s putting on.
The show was not full, and many tickets got upgraded before the concert began. Tickets were sold for as low as $34 on the resale market. Merch was available for sale and included hats, t-shirts, a theatre-inspired program, pins, socks, tote bags, etc. Most of the merchandise bore wild song lyrics or titles from West End Girl. Merch is also available on her official store website.
Allen continues to tour in the USA through September, before ending her tour in Australia.
Full Setlist:
West End Girl
Ruminating
Sleepwalking
Tennis
Madeline
Relapse
Pussy Palace
4chan Stan
Nonmonogamummy
Just Enough
Dallas Major
Beg For Me
Let You W/In
Fruityloop
