The MAC Theatre in Birmingham may not be the typical haunt for the alternative crowd, but its clean acoustics and intimate layout proved a surprisingly perfect match for the warm, melancholic charm of Lily Kerbey. Trading in the usual sticky floors and blackout rooms for a seated auditorium might have felt unusual at first, but it did nothing to dampen the atmosphere, or the devotion of the fans who’ve followed Kerbey from viral wedding performances to joining her on her national tour.
Opening support Sam Jayne set the tone with a quietly commanding set, drawing in a crowd, and setting the scene for the evening ahead with a set mixed with glorious covers and her own beautiful originals.
The crowd was made up mostly of elder emos who discovered Kerbey through her unique acoustic spins on heavy-hitting classics. From Slipknot’s Duality to Tenacious D’s Tribute, Kerbey has carved out a niche by fearlessly transforming tracks that shouldn’t work acoustically, yet somehow absolutely do. Originally a teacher before branching into full-time music, she’s become the go-to artist for couples wanting something a little less conventional than the standard wedding soundtrack. After all, who says you can’t walk down the aisle to lyrics about existential dread?
Kerbey’s current “Stealth Rock Tour 2” has sold out venues across the country, even prompting extra dates in Newcastle. And from the opening classic cover of Bring Me The Horizon’s Throne into My Chemical Romance’s Helena, it was clear why. Even the theatre’s usual air of polite restraint couldn’t hold for long. With some slight encouragement, the low hum of crowd participation began to swell, building into the collective, cathartic sing-alongs that define her shows, albeit more muted than Stockport the previous night.
Her setlist remains joyfully eclectic, skipping between emotional nostalgia and playful experimentation. A standout was a cheeky mashup featuring the Pokémon theme tune, proving that Kerbey’s appeal lies as much in her sense of fun as in her vocal talent. Even those of us who don’t usually subscribe to the cult of Sleep Token (yes, I know, sorry!) found were charmed by her stripped-back, emotive take on Caramel.
Midway through the show, Kerbey was joined onstage by her support and long term friend, Sam, harmonising beautifully on A Day To Remember’s You Had Me At Hello and Enter Shikari’s Sorry You’re Not A Winner, complete with the expected clapping challenge to prove we really were true emos. Later, her partner Rory stepped in to provide rich technical guitar work, particularly shining during their atmospheric cover of System of a Down’s Aerials. His intricate playing paired with Kerbey’s soaring vocals added genuine emotional weight to an already beloved track.
The night continued to weave through alt-scene staples – Slipknot, Alexisonfire, Creed, Panic! at the Disco, Bilmuri and more, before culminating in an animated, full-crowd sing-along to Tenacious D, because honestly, how could it end any other way?
What sets Kerbey apart is not just her talent but her authenticity. Her between-song anecdotes, delivered with disarming honesty and humour, made the show feel as though fans were catching up with an old friend. It’s no surprise that her wedding bookings are filled through 2026 and 2027; she has become the soundtrack to a generation unwilling to abandon the songs that shaped them, even at the altar.
For anyone seeking a fresh interpretation of their favourite alt classics, or simply craving a reminder that the emo phase never truly ends, Lily Kerbey remains an artist absolutely worth following. Check out her Spotify repertoire, keep an eye on her socials, and catch her live while you still can.