Rachel Chinouriri Shines at SXSW London 2026 Showcase Ahead of Gracie Abrams Tour

It’s been a minute since Rachel Chinouriri last played a headline show in her home city, something she noted onstage at Shoreditch Town Hall on Wednesday night (June 3). “I realized I hadn’t done a London show, I think, in over a year. I was worried that maybe nobody would come tonight,” she admitted with a laugh, acknowledging her time away. “Thank you so much for being amazing, and reminding me that you guys are so special.”

Performing in the music program for 2026’s SXSW London , the show provided the British star a moment of reconnection with her Darlings — the name affectionately given to her fans — following two years of being booked and extremely busy. Chinouriri, however, is not a musician that is easily forgotten.

Following the release of 2024’s critically acclaimed debut What a Devastating Turn of Events , Chinouriri cemented her status as one of the U.K.’s standout young songwriters, placing her alongside musical peers like CMAT and Holly Humberstone. A stellar collection of emotive indie packed with smart hooks, the LP soared in a live setting, be that on her own headline tours across the U.K. and U.S., or during a run of high-profile support gigs with superstars including Florence + the Machine and Sabrina Carpenter. The Croydon-raised artist will continue her hot streak when she joins Gracie Abrams as a support act on her upcoming arena jaunt. New music on the horizon will only bolster her reputation.

But, for now, it was about renewing the 27-year-old’s connection with her fans, and her performance was both a triumphant return to performing in the capital and a showcase of the musical diversity and strength of SXSW’s music programming. These were the best moments from the show.

_Originally reported by [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/lists/rachel-chinouriri-live-at-sxsw-london-2026-review/)._