Stripped back & intimate: Holly Humberstone Live in Berlin
Ahead of the release of her second studio album, Cruel World, scheduled to come out on April 10th, 2026, Holly Humberstone is currently on a small (and sold out) "intimate and stripped back" tour all throughout Europe. On Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, the London-based singer stopped at Peter Edel Kulturhaus in the heart of Berlin Pankow - probably one of the most interesting venues I've ever seen. It reminded one of a baroque ballroom due to the very high ceilings and the unique setup, which offered around 600 people (very likely) one of the last opportunities to be this close to Humberstone.
Right from the get-go, it became pretty clear: Music was the focus of the night as things were kept pretty simple. No fancy visuals on screens behind her, no confetti, no huge band or even full production. Just a singer with some new (and some old) songs and her guitar - just like advertised. Or him and his guitar, as Holly brought British singer Woody with her as a support act. His set included songs off his album highs, lows & stargazing, which came out last year, including songs like "when you leave", "out of my mind", or "when you were around".
Adapting the stereotypical German punctuality, Holly hit the stage at 9:00 pm sharp with a banger: "To Love Somebody". Other highlights of the show included "Falling Asleep At The Wheel" and "Scarlett" off her debut project, as well as the unreleased title track of her upcoming record, Cruel World. Looking through the crowd, there was something unusual to be observed: there were almost no phones spotted. Just people enjoying live-music like it‘s supposed to be done.
After performing 15 songs, the show ended around an hour later at 10:00 pm with the performance of "Dive", giving the crowd enough time to grab a drink afterwards, grab a snack, to debrief with friends or head home early.
This can seem short, especially in comparison to shows such as Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, where Holly happens to have been an opener during one of Swift‘s Wembley shows back in 2024, but it can be excused by the intimacy and exclusivity Holly offered, which made the night feel more like a hang out with an old friend, who happens to be a singer and who happens to have brought their guitar and some speakers.
Something else noticeable: there was no encore. And honestly, this felt refreshing. It can be tiring watching shows where artists announce they are leaving the stage just to come back seconds later for a "surprising" encore, which is part of the setlist anyway. There was a brief moment when the crowd collectively held their breath during an intermission, a fan requested Humberstone to play fan-favorite "Ghost Me". Although Holly couldn‘t fulfill their wish, she gave us something else: the announcement of European full-production "Cruel World" shows, where "Ghost Me" might be included.
The next few months will be pretty busy for the singer. After some more stripped-back and intimate shows throughout Europe and the UK, Holly will head to North America to embark on her North American Leg of the Cruel World Tour - including one (or to be more specific, two!) stops at this year's infamous Coachella festival. While not giving the crowd specific dates, Holly still teased a stretch of shows in Europe, and Germany seemingly included, for autumn 2026 - so stay tuned!
Make sure to check out Holly Humberstone's second studio album, "Cruel World" out April 20th, 2026, and to keep an eye out for upcoming tour dates in your area.
REVIEW BY
Andy
(Live) music is one of my biggest passions, which is why I enjoy exploring pop culture in my writings. From analyzing albums to reviewing concerts. I'm especially interested in fandom culture, which often comes through in my work.
PHOTOS BY
Pauline
I’ve loved photography since I was a kid and (live) music has always been such an important part of my life, getting to combine both of those things is a dream come true. I also love urban and street photography, especially while traveling. Any of my friends can tell tales about having to wait for me while i take pictures wherever we go haha. So: if you’re ever looking for me, chances are you’ll find me and my camera at a concert or out somewhere traveling (or at a concert while traveling).
