Fred again..’s history-making Ally Pally residency takes the headlines in the Great Hall
Fred again.. (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
Over four extraordinary weeks in February, the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace welcomed genre-defining icons, career-defining performances and genuinely history-making moments, creating one of the most remarkable months for live music that Ally Pally has ever seen.
At the centre of it all was Fred again.. returning to the ‘People’s Palace’ for the third time as the setting for his landmark shows, that quickly became one of the most talked-about and culturally significant live moments in years.
Across four sold-out nights and set beneath a breathtaking canopy over the capacity crowds, Fred again.. brought the finale of his 10-week USB002 residency to Alexandra Palace, announcing a different line-up of collaborators each day, and turning the Great Hall into a genre-bending celebration of music and club culture.
Opening the run, Fred greeted his fans with a simple message:
“LONDON, WE ARE HOME ❤️”
The Guardian described the shows as a “guest-heavy homecoming for the golden boy of UK dance… an eclectic triumph.”
Across the residency, the rotating bill brought together what Fred described as the “absolute pillars” of the UK music landscape. The first night included live appearances from Berwyn, Blanco, Headie One, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, the mighty Jamie T and members of Ezra Collective, with b2b sets with Hamdi, Oppidan and Nia Archives.
The Standard noted that “Gibson himself said during a quiet moment, though, ‘we could only ever end this in one place’ – Alexandra Palace, in his hometown of London.”
Fred again.. (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
Night two saw opening sets from MPH, Joy Anonymous and Koleoso, plus grime legends D Double E and JME joining Fred on stage alongside The Streets jumping on the mic for ‘Has It Come To This’.
A collaboration between The xx’s Romy and Ezra Collective followed, before one of the most phenomenal collaborative moments of the year happened with electronic pioneers, Underworld. Karl Hyde and Rick Smith appeared on stage to perform their iconic anthem ‘Born Slippy’ with Mike Skinner.
Introducing them, Fred told the sold-out crowd; “We are standing on a lot of shoulders tonight. There are no one we need to thank more than these two gentlemen stood next to me right now. This is an honour beyond belief.”
Fred again.. (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
Night three saw the return of Berwyn, Blanco, D Double E, JME and Ezra Collective, alongside dubstep pioneers Mala, Skream, Benga, Coki and Lou Noor, and electro-pop artist La Roux made a very special guest appearance during Skream’s remix of her huge dance anthem, ‘Going In For The Kill.’
The final night, number four, marked a truly significant moment in dance music history.
The legendary French artist, Thomas Bangalter, one half of Daft Punk, stepped up to the decks alongside Fred, delivering his first DJ set in London in more than 16 years.
The Groove Cartel wrote: “When Bangalter finally stepped up to the decks at Ally Pally, the room erupted.”
Fred again.. (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
Featuring Daft Punk classics including ‘Aerodynamic’ to ‘Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger’, a raft of classic tracks and exclusive edits, the pair ended the set with none other than Daft Punk’s unmistakeable ‘One More Time.’
The rare b2b set brought together two generations of dance music in a moment that quickly became one of the most spectacular highlights of the residency, social media and club culture, forever.
Fred again.. (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
Before Bangalter’s set, Friday guest appearances came thick and fast with Joy Anonymous, Berwyn, Jamie T and Ezra Collective, who were joined by none other than British rapper, Kano.
As EDM Nomad wrote; “Ally Pally became more than a venue. It became a meeting point across eras. Influence flowed in both directions. Legacy met momentum on the same stage.”
Fred again.. (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
Dance music defined much of February in the Great Hall.
Deep house superstar and king of Ibiza, Solomun kicked off the month with a two-night takeover, delivering unforgettable five-hour sets that transformed the auditorium into a deeply immersive, audio-visual environment.
The production played a huge part in that transformation, from floating cube visuals, to moving LED pods that shifted with the music to create a constantly evolving atmosphere.
Ibiza Spotlight called the shows; “another landmark in his global rise”, while The Standard described how he “transported the packed room somewhere else entirely.”
Solomun (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
Later in the month, dance music royalty returned as Fatboy Slim delivered two blistering sold-out shows on 20 and 21 February, marking his third appearance at Ally Pally.
A true pioneer who has shaped dance music for more than four decades, his production pushed the venue in a new direction.
For the very first time, a monumental 48-metre-wide video wall stretched across the side of the Great Hall, creating one of the most ambitious visual installations Ally Pally has ever hosted, anchored by his trademark cinematic visuals, precision sound and confetti special-effects.
He summed it up perfectly. “A thousand thanks for having me again. Such a beautiful venue, steeped in tradition and history.”
Fatboy Slim (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
To close the month, acclaimed DJ and producer PAWSA brought another defining dancefloor moment with his sold-out Ally Pally debut. Cross-generational, multi-dimensional and electric from start to finish, it was the kind of night that could only happen in a room like the Great Hall.
PAWSA (c) Alexandra Palace – Josette Crispin Photography
February also welcomed one of the most incendiary forces in modern deathcore, as Lorna Shore arrived to deliver a sold-out headline show that pushed the genre to one of its biggest stages yet.
Kerrang! wrote; “Most bands never get here… this was their destiny all along, to become torchbearers and make mainstream metal feel extreme again.”
Five-star reviews followed, with When The Horn Blows praising “some of the best pyro that Ally Pally has ever seen.”
Lorna Shore (c) Nick Chance/Chance Visuals
And on Valentine’s Day, Motionless In White brought their theatrical metalcore spectacle to the Great Hall for one of the biggest European shows of their career.
“It is heart-warming and pride-inducing to see heavy music reach venues of this capacity,” declared Moshly, while RAMzine described the scene, “what better way to spend the most romantic night of the year than in the company of thousands of metal fans, bathed in fire and confetti, screaming along to songs about heartbreak and survival.”
From history-making residencies to career-defining shows, February 2026 wasn’t just another busy month at Alexandra Palace. It was a reminder of why Ally Pally’s Great Hall is one of London’s most extraordinary rooms and most iconic live stages.
