Elbow Kick Off Robert Smith’s Teenage Cancer Trust Gigs at Royal Albert Hall
Elbow Opens Robert Smith’s Teenage Cancer Trust Gig Series at Royal Albert Hall
Elbow kicked off Robert Smith’s curated series of benefit concerts for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday, March 23rd, marking the band’s first-ever performance at the iconic London venue. The series, traditionally overseen by Roger Daltrey of The Who, has been handed over to The Cure’s Robert Smith this year, a role Smith described as a “great honour.” The opening night saw Elbow deliver a career-spanning set to a supportive crowd.
The band’s performance drew from across their discography, including tracks from 2005’s Leaders Of The Free World – “Station Approach” and “Great Expectations” – alongside selections from their most recent album, 2024’s Audio Vertigo. A full setlist is available below.
A Compliment From Smith
Ahead of the show, Elbow frontman Guy Garvey shared a story with Metro about a particularly meaningful compliment the band received from Robert Smith. Garvey recalled a period of difficulty during the recording of their second album, a common experience for many artists striving to follow up a successful debut. “It’s one of those things where you spent 10 years trying to get the album off the floor, and then you do, and then the second one has got to be as fine or better. It’s a lot of pressure,” he explained.
The validation came unexpectedly through the pages of Q magazine. “Robert Smith was in a magazine article in Q on what he was listening to. He said he was listening to Elbow, and that it was like learning a latest language, which was just the most amazing compliment I think we’ve ever had,” Garvey said. “To get the nod from somebody respected as much as Robert Smith can notice through the dark tea-times of the soul.”
This anecdote highlights the respect Smith commands within the music industry and the impact his opinion can have on other artists. It similarly speaks to the depth and complexity of Elbow’s music, which resonated with Smith on a profound level.
Elbow Setlist, March 23, 2026
- ‘Things I’ve Been Telling Myself For Years’
- ‘Lovers’ Leap’
- ‘The Bones Of You’
- ‘Mirrorball’
- ‘Empires’
- ‘Fly Boy Blue / Lunette’
- ‘Kindling’
- ‘Her To The Earth’
- ‘Balu’
- ‘Great Expectations’
- ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’
- ‘The Birds’
- ‘Lippy Kids’
- ‘My Sad Captains’
- ‘Magnificent (She Says)’
- ‘Grounds For Divorce’
- ‘Station Approach’
- ‘One Day Like This’
Teenage Cancer Trust: A Legacy of Support
The Teenage Cancer Trust provides vital support to young people with cancer, funding specialist units and nursing care in hospitals across the UK. The annual Royal Albert Hall concert series is a cornerstone of their fundraising efforts, bringing together a diverse lineup of artists to raise awareness and much-needed funds. More information about the charity’s work can be found on their official website.
This year’s series, curated by Robert Smith, promises to be particularly special, with a lineup that reflects his eclectic taste and commitment to supporting the cause. The event’s livestream options, as detailed by NME, will allow fans around the world to participate in the fundraising efforts.
What’s Ahead for the Series
The week continues with a diverse range of performances and events. Tonight, March 24th, will feature a comedy lineup. The remaining schedule includes performances by Mogwai (March 25th), Manic Street Preachers (March 26th), My Bloody Valentine (March 27th), Garbage and Placebo (March 28th), and Wolf Alice (March 29th). Tickets, where still available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Robert Smith, in announcing the lineup, emphasized the importance of the Teenage Cancer Trust’s work and his desire to create a memorable week of events. “Teenage Cancer Trust does absolutely amazing work, and I am incredibly proud they asked me to be ‘Cureator’ of their March 2026 concerts at the RAH,” he stated. “I wanted to make it a truly unforgettable, unmissable week… and I can hardly wait to experience it all.”