My first weekend in Harlaxton proved to be eventful. Within a few days of touching down in England, Chance and I were invited by our friend Kyla to see the final day of All Points East in Victoria Park, London. While I honestly wasn’t sure what my concert profile for the fall semester would look like, I was overjoyed to have an early opportunity to put at least one on the board. With Twenty One Pilots headlining, we knew we couldn’t say no.

After a quick trip to Grantham on Friday and some exploring in Nottingham on Saturday, we got up early and headed to the train station. If there’s one thing the UK has figured out, it’s public transportation. Our changes were smooth and went along without much trouble (not including dragging our bags from the station to our hotel, which was an entirely different can of worms). We had just enough time to drop off our bags and freshen up before we were off to catch the tube to the park.

It’s always fun to see other people on their way to the same concert, but it’s especially true when it comes to Twenty One Pilots. The fans are unmistakable, decked out in red and yellow tape, costumes from the music videos, and the (in)famous black-painted hands and neck. We knew we were headed in the right direction when we found ourselves surrounded by people who couldn’t be headed anywhere else but Victoria Park.

After a long queue and some ticket troubles (thanks, UK cell service…), we finally found ourselves on the festival grounds. All Points East was the first music festival I’ve ever attended, and part of me regrets not being able to see more of it. I caught part of Honey Revenge’s set while waiting in the longest merch line that I think I’ve ever encountered, and after we finally were able to get our shirts, we headed to bbno$’s stage. While I honestly can’t say I’ve listened to much of his music, his set was so bizarre and such a fun time that I’m truly glad I went. He has a very genuine and engaging stage presence that filled the tent from its dirt floor all the way to its peaked ceiling, from the stage to the open back. His visuals were great as well, and I admire his dedication to using human-made artwork and animation in a time that seems so domineered by AI and computer-generated visuals.

I don’t know if I ever could have been prepared for the sheer number of people attending APE for Twenty One Pilots’ set. We arrived around an hour before the set was supposed to start, and it seemed that people had been there all day already. With that said, we weren’t close to the stage, but the Pilots have a way with their concerts that makes you feel every word no matter where you end up.

Their setlist contained a staggering 28 songs and was chock-full of covers, including snippets of Milky Chance’s “Stolen Dance”, The Beatles’ “Let It Be”, Radiohead’s “Creep”, and, in full, “Seven Nation Army” from The White Stripes. Each one was a very welcome surprise, and seeing my friends’ reactions and the ones from those around us made it even more fun. I loved the variety in the setlist and how it felt like a great mix of songs across their discography while not leaving out their biggest hits.

As always with concerts, especially ones of this magnitude, there is real beauty in being surrounded by those who just seem to get it. Not only were we surrounded by the band’s signature colors and merch as far as the eye could see, but we also found ourselves in a sea of people who, like us, knew and felt every word. Even standing shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers and thousands of miles from Evansville, Victoria Park felt something like home.

I’ve been listening to this band for over a decade now. To say this band has been a huge part of my life would be an understatement. In the earliest times I can remember struggling with my mental health, it was such a huge comfort to have a band that faced those topics head-on. Chance and I saw Twenty One Pilots on their Breach tour last year, and while that was my first time seeing them even with such a long following under my belt, it was life changing. We held each other through the raw emotions we felt for the songs that seemed to see us clearly and the overwhelming gratitude for making it through to today. The same rang true at All Points East — we, along with Kyla, turned to each other several times with tears on our faces and red cheeks, overwhelmed by the music and the sensation of being seen. That vulnerability is, in my opinion, part of what makes this band so special.

The pair have undeniable chemistry and a great stage presence that made for an unforgettable evening and a perfect first festival experience. As we left, again surrounded by a huge swath of fans just like us, the fatigue barely registered. The post-concert high made the tube ride home (and navigating back to the hotel) much more bearable. I couldn’t have asked for a better first weekend in the UK, and I hope to attend more concerts during my time here.