Baroque'n'Roll: meet London's fans of The Last Dinner Party

Outside the Eventim Apollo one regular Wednesday evening, groups are dressed like they’ve just wandered out of a Peter Paul Ruben’s painting. They are twirling and skipping, hand-in-hand across the pedestrian crossing outside Hammersmith station.

Tightly laced corsets, billowing skirts and red hair dye is the unofficial uniform for fans of The Last Dinner Party, the five-piece British band whose founding members met in 2020 during Freshers' Week at King's College London.

After attending gigs at The Windmill, the quintet decided to form a band but struggled to rehearse together due to lockdown, performing live together for the first time at The George pub in 2021.

Their rise to cult-status since has been astronomical; they opened for the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park in 2022 and won this year's rising star award at the BRITs.

Die-hard fans now honour their new heroines by emulating their baroque style – which was fully on display for their sold-out hometown show.

The London Standard and artist James Mollison spoke to a few of them on their way in.

Mollison has been photographing fans attending concerts around the world since 2005 for his project The Disciples, fascinated by the different tribes that attend the shows and how people emulate celebrities to form their identity and what emerges when photographed as a group.

Lily Buchan, 23, Bristol (L)

Have you seen The Last Dinner Party before?

No this is my first time

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

Just their look really! Baroque and renaissance artwork, new romantics. I had all of it already.

What do you like most about TLDP?

I love that their music is really inspired by 1980s synth-pop, glam-rock and they also take inspiration from femininity and art and literature

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

By Your Side, that’s my favourite. It’s gorgeous and melancholic and makes me cry.

Aoife Joseph, 24, Kent (R)

Have you seen TLDP before?

No I haven’t.

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

Pirates!

What do you like most about TLDP?

I like their vibes.

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

Nothing Matters!

Luke Johnson, 23, Shingham (L)

Have you seen TLDP before?

No I haven’t.

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

Ambiguity in the gender conforms.

What do you like most about TLDP?

I love their style and their uniqueness.

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

Lady of Mercy.

Evie Moorehead, 21, Leyton (R)

Have you seen TLDP before?

I have not.

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

I was going for southern gothic vibes or like a creepy possessed haunted doll with a rosary.

What do you like most about TLDP?

I really like the way they use religious imagery and intertwine it with queerness. I think that is such an interesting dynamic, catholics can be queer too!

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

Burn Alive - I love songs that are about being in toxic relationships, it’s such a good encapsulation of what it’s like to be in love in a bad situation. The lyric “You don't wanna hurt me, but I want you to” says it all

Blue Lily Melvin, 17, Henley (L)

Have you seen TLDP before?

Never! But I watched them perform live online

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

Not gonna lie they go off the vibes of a renaissance painting and that’s what this look was inspired by. I had this in my basket on the website Cider but it was £16 and then I saw it in a charity shop for 2 quid! And the leg warmers I already had from ballet. My mum helped me decide, she’s the stylish one!

What do you like most about TLDP?

I like the style of music, I listen to a lot of punk normally, but their songs are like a story, they have a narrative. I love their use of instruments and of course their music video aesthetics are gorgeous.

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

The Feminine Urge, the first time I listened to it because I had three separate friends message me because it has the word ballerina in it and they said it made them think of me. My mum loves them too!

Madeleine Pickford, 20, Essex (R)

Have you seen TLDP before?

No this is my first time seeing them

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

Edwardian Vibes

What do you like most about TLDP?

I like the way they have combined goth and pop - very twirly music with deep metaphorical lyrics.

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

Nothing Matters is forever iconic

Sophie Cook, 20, Buckinghamshire (L)

Have you seen TLDP before?

No.

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

A gothic baroque pirate.

What do you like most about TLDP?

I agree with what Madeleine said!

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

Beautiful boy - it’s interesting and new and the lyrics are so thoughtful.

Nethara Chandrashekara, 21, Surrey (R)

Have you seen TLDP before?

Yes, once opening for Hozier last year.

What was the inspiration behind your outfit?

My outfit was inspired by their short film: Prelude to Ecstasy.

What do you like most about TLDP?

I like their message of female anger.

If you were going to tell the people of London to listen to one TLDP songs which would it be?

The Feminine Urge.

Photography: James Mollison

Producer & Words: Nicole Holcroft-Emmess

Photography Assistants: Damian Duncan and Jessica Harle