Entertainment

Wet Leg praise Teenage Cancer Trust at Royal Albert Hall charity fundraiser

The indie duo played the third night of the annual series of charity fundraising gigs.
The indie duo played the third night of the annual series of charity fundraising gigs.

Wet Leg thanked the Teenage Cancer Trust as they headlined the prestigious Royal Albert Hall just 18 months after playing 200-capacity venues.

The Isle of Wight indie rock duo inspired mass singalongs and even a rare mosh pit at the venerable west London venue.

Singer Rhian Teasdale told the crowd: “It’s very, very nice to be back in London and it’s very nice to be playing a gig for the Teenage Cancer Trust.”

This was the third in a week of fundraising gigs for the charity which have been held most years since they were founded by Roger Daltrey of The Who in 2000.

Teenage Cancer Trust Gigs 2023 – London
Wet Leg delighted their fans with songs including Supermarket, Wet Dream and Angelica (Aaron Chown/PA)

Teasdale and Hester Chambers – who started Wet Leg together in 2019 – and their band delighted their fans with songs including Supermarket, Wet Dream and Angelica, and encouraged everyone to scream during Ur Mum.

“I’m having a very good time, it’s so good to get the band back together, big it up for the Teenage Cancer Trust,” Teasdale said.

By the end of the gig most of those in the seats were on their feet dancing as Teasdale said: “This is just so strange. Thank you so much for having us, thank you for being the best audience ever.”

The band then played Chaise Longue, their debut single, to a rapturous reception, before leaving the stage, with Careless Whisper by Wham! playing as the crowd filed out.

Teenage Cancer Trust Gigs 2023 – London
Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers started Wet Leg together in 2019 (Aaron Chown/PA)

They now have a few weeks off before playing a couple of festivals, and then supporting Harry Styles on a lengthy tour including four dates at Wembley Stadium.

South London trio Honeyglaze opened the gig, followed by rising star CMAT, the extrovert Dublin singer-writer Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson and her band.

They inspired enough screams and waved mobile phone torches on songs such as I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby, to suggest she is likely to be back headlining sooner rather than later.

A short film was shown about young cancer survivor Callum from Manchester, and he then appeared on stage with other teenagers and gave a moving speech about how the disease does not define him, and praising the way the charity helped him through the toughest of times.

The week of fundraising gigs began on Monday with Underworld and continues with Jake Bugg on Thursday, The Courteeners on Friday, Kasabian on Saturday and ends on Sunday with Daltrey and friends including Richard Ashcroft and Joan Armatrading.