Self Esteem – Newcastle O2 City Hall - 18th September 2025

Photo By Sam Wall

Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, brought her A Complicated Woman tour to Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on 18 September, and what unfolded was more than just a pop concert. It was a night of theatre, protest, intimacy, and celebration rolled into one, a performance that confirmed her reputation as one of the UK’s most compelling live artists.

From the outset, it was clear this wouldn’t be a conventional pop show. Taylor and her troupe of performers took to the stage in bonnets and dresses reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale, a visual statement that set the tone for a performance laced with symbolism and intent. The staging was equally striking throughout with sharp choreography, well timed lighting shifts, and powerful backing vocals gave the evening a sense of both grandeur and intimacy.

The setlist leaned heavily on her latest record, A Complicated Woman, with tracks like I Do And I Don’t Care, Mother, and Logic, Bitch! showcasing Taylor’s ability to balance vulnerability with defiance. These songs hit hard in the live setting, resonating powerfully with the crowd with older favourites such as Prioritise Pleasure and F***** Wizardry greeted with euphoric cheers, proving how deeply her audience has connected with her work across the past few years.

Photo By Sam Wall

Midway through the night came one of the evening’s most special moments, Moonchild Sanelly, this evening support act, joining Taylor on stage for a storming rendition of In Plain Sight, the collaboration adding a fresh surge of energy to a set already brimming with intensity.

The atmosphere inside City Hall was remarkable. Despite the sweltering heat, at one point Taylor joked that the venue felt like “hell” as she asked for a towel, the energy never dipped, perhaps also feeding off the energy from the champions league game going on at the football stadium down the road. Fans sang, shouted, and swayed along arm in arm with their friends creating the sense of a collective experience rather than a one-sided performance.

Photo By Sam Wall

Visually and emotionally, the show struck a careful balance. There were moments of humour and playfulness, often delivered with Taylor’s sharp wit, sitting alongside passages of raw, uncompromising honesty. This ability to move seamlessly between protest, confession, and celebration is what makes her live shows so unique.

The finale sealed the night’s impact. I Do This All The Time, her spoken-word anthem of resilience and self-reflection, drew a reverent hush across the hall before building to an ecstatic release. Closing with Focus Is Power, Taylor left her audience uplifted, united, and visibly moved.

Photo By Sam Wall

Article & Photography By Sam Wall