Maribou State Lights Up Alexandra Palace: Orchestral Beats and Euphoric Comeback

Maribou State’s Homecoming Fuses Orchestral Grandeur and Electronic Warmth at Alexandra Palace

The Alexandra Palace crowd might have expected the usual electronic fare, but Maribou State had something else up their sleeve. After a five-year stretch away from live shows, Chris Davids and Liam Ivory marked their return to the stage with a three-night residency that fully embraced risk and spectacle. Maribou State didn’t just showcase their latest album, Hallucinating Love—they elevated it, blending orchestral swells and choir harmonies into their signature folk-infused electronica, making every night feel like stepping into a living, breathing soundscape.

The duo set the tone immediately when they opened with “Nervous Tics,” an older favorite from 2019’s Kingdoms in Colour. The track’s gentle melody washed over the audience before erupting into a euphoria of beats and synths, a blueprint for the evening’s dynamic balance between fragile beauty and unbridled rave energy. This wasn’t your standard electronic show. Bringing in a full orchestra and choir amped up the emotional weight, imbuing each song with grand, cinematic layers that pushed the limits of what live electronica could be.

Guest Stars, Shifting Lights, and an Uplifting Vibe

Not content with just orchestral flair, Maribou State called on the vocal talents of Holly Walker and Tallulah Ruby. Walker delivered haunting traces in “Otherside,” while Ruby’s shimmering soprano soared across “Glasshouses.” Ruby’s presence stood out, her voice effortlessly weaving in and out of the duo’s intricate sound design—a perfect match for the experimental edge the night delivered.

Live percussion added even more fuel to the fire. Drummer Jonny Cade was impossible to miss, his crisp rhythms pushing tracks from simmer to full-blown dancefloor frenzy. During the set’s more explosive moments, Cade’s drumming became the heartbeat of the room, linking the classical arrangements with the electronic jams. On the other end, punchy synths and neatly sliced samples ensured that things never got too comfortable—every time you settled into a song, a new twist kept you guessing.

The stage visuals didn’t let up, either. Massive screens cycled through blurry shots of car taillights—a nod to the album art—that made the space feel like a road trip through Maribou State’s imagination. Lighting bathed the stage in tawny oranges and deep reds, echoing the album’s mood and feeding right into the summer optimism pulsing through the crowd.

“Vale” provided the emotional apex. It started off almost whisper-quiet, letting every note breathe, before unleashing a sonic storm that showed just how much thought went into these live transitions. All night, the indoors somehow managed to feel decidedly outdoorsy, as if all 10,000 fans were sharing a festival sunset, even in the historic palace walls.

These shows did more than bring Maribou State’s sound to life—they gave fans a reason to believe in the full potential of live electronic music. By fusing orchestral textures, remarkable guest spots, and creative visuals, the duo managed to build a sense of community and resilience, reminding everyone just how powerful collective musical experience can be when done right.