Palace, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA 11/3/2026
It had been several years since I last saw Palace perform at The Foundry, one of Philadelphia’s smaller and more intimate music venues. Needless to say, I was excited to see the London-based band return to the city, this time taking the stage at one of my favorite Philadelphia venues, Franklin Music Hall. With a larger room and a catalog full of incredible songs, it was shaping up to be a memorable night.
Kicking off the evening was Rollo Doherty, an indie-pop artist who is also the frontman of the London-based band ISLAND. His set was a great way to get the night started, showcasing his creativity through layered instrumentation. He brought an interesting dynamic to the stage, building songs through looping techniques that gave his performance a unique sound. Throughout the set, he repeatedly expressed his appreciation for the Philadelphia crowd, mentioning how much he loved playing in the city. His genuine enthusiasm made for a welcoming opening performance and helped set the tone for the night.
When it was finally time for Palace, the band emerged onto the stage in near darkness and immediately launched into “Ox,” the title track from their 2026 album. It was an atmospheric and exciting way to open the show, instantly drawing the crowd into their world. They wasted little time getting into some of their more recognizable material, bringing out “Bitter” as the third song of the night. The crowd responded enthusiastically, clearly excited to hear one of the band's biggest songs so early in the set.
The momentum continued with “Let's Go Swimming,” a standout from their 2025 release that has been particularly successful. One of the things Palace does so well is balance their more atmospheric, slow-building songs with tracks that have a much bigger emotional payoff. Their live performance highlighted that ability, allowing songs to breathe while still maintaining an incredible energy throughout the room.
One of the biggest highlights of the evening came during “Gravity.” In the middle of the song, the band stretched things out into an impressive instrumental jam, building the intensity as the lighting transformed the venue. Rapidly flashing strobes illuminated the stage and crowd, creating an almost hypnotic visual experience that perfectly complemented the band's sound. It was one of those moments where the music and production came together to make the live experience feel even more special.
Palace continued to deliver throughout the set, keeping the recognizable songs coming and giving the crowd plenty of opportunities to sing along. Their biggest song, “Live Well,” arrived around the middle of the performance, and it was a particularly memorable moment. The audience sang along to every word, swaying together as the song filled Franklin Music Hall. It's easy to understand why the track has become such a fan favorite, and hearing it surrounded by a room full of people who knew every lyric made it even better.
As the show moved toward its closing stretch, the band played one of my personal favorites, “Heaven Up There.” I had been looking forward to finally hearing the song live, and it did not disappoint. Its atmospheric instrumentation and emotional build made it a perfect moment in the set, and getting to experience it in person was one of the highlights of the entire night.
Overall, it was a fantastic performance and a welcome return to Philadelphia for Palace. From Rollo Doherty's creative opening set to Palace's impressive combination of fan favorites, newer material, extended instrumental moments, and incredible lighting, the evening had everything I could have hoped for. After several years away from seeing the band live, it was great to have them back in the city, especially in a venue like Franklin Music Hall. Palace once again proved why they are such a compelling live act, and I hope it won't be nearly as long before they return to Philadelphia.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen
