Live Report : Alex Warren brings grief and gratitude to the 3arena

From being homeless at 17 to a famous YouTuber, to selling out the 3arena as a Grammy nominated musician, Alex Warren’s trajectory is certainly out of the ordinary.

Warren at 17 became a co-founder of the now-defunct TikTok collective ‘Hype House’ after his alcoholic mother kicked him out. Since he has spent the last five years trying to shed his vlogger image and establish himself in the music industry. Warren's dramatic, almost church-like ballads have recently taken over the internet, with his hit song ‘Ordinary’ topping the Billboard Global 200 for ten consecutive weeks. 

Warren concluded his 2026 tour with two emotional shows at the 3arena, offering a performance that balanced themes of grief and gratitude. The tour, titled 'Little Orphan Alex Live (Finding your Family on the Road),' is a darkly humorous nod to Annie, referencing Warren's own experience of being orphaned at a young age.

Family emerged as the central theme of the entire concert. The show began with home videos of Warren as a child, narrated by his father. The footage, which included Warren learning to ride a bike, singing at a toddler-sized piano, and him and his siblings jumping and dancing, was set to what sounded like a gospel choir opening.

The concert began with a flourish of confetti poppers. The stage setup was minimalist, featuring a few platforms for the musicians, a curtain, and a screen displaying road trip footage of coastal and wooded landscapes.

Warren's vocal power and musical talent are undeniable. He opened the set with ‘Troubled Waters’ and the country-tinged ‘Bloodline,’ followed by ‘Outside’ and ‘First Time on Earth,’.

A key theme, "found family," resonates deeply with the audience, many of whom are familiar with Warren’s social media life. For many attendees, the connection is less with the music and more with Alex Warren the personality.

Warren's wife, Kouvr Annon, a former 'Hype House' member herself, has been a significant muse and source of support, dating back to his time experiencing homelessness. Witnessing Warren pour out heartfelt love songs for her on a grand stage, after his challenging journey to fame, makes the song's impact even stronger. Songs such as 'Passenger side', 'Catch My breath', 'Heaven Without You', and 'Carry you Home' evoke the atmosphere of a rustic, intimate country wedding, an image reinforced by the on-stage cello adding a chapel-like resonance. The hard hitting vocals, the displays of grief and emotions and the maturity Warren brings to the stage, make it hard to believe he ever lived in the same house as Lil Huddy.

Warren's deep connection with his fanbase is clearly fuelled by the intensely cathartic nature of his music. A distinctly memorable, albeit odd, moment occurred when Warren was handed a small container of ashes, alongside a sign stating, "I brought my dead uncle to come see you." As he held the container on stage, considering whether to spread them on the floor, the crowd began to chant and clap.

‘I don’t know what to say,’ said Warren. “Is he on Ozempic? This is light. I know I’m being funny, but I guess my claim to fame is that I unboxed my parents online. I wanted to show someone who had never lost someone what ashes were like, and I’m not kidding you, I got my mom sent to me in a zip lock bag.’

Warren's music is deeply inspired by his struggle with the death of his parents. Tracks such as ‘You’ll be alright Kid,’ ‘Before you Leave Me,’ and ‘I’ll Save You a Seat’ powerfully embody grief. Among the night's most emotionally intense songs, "Eternity" stood out, and the unreleased track, "Same Star," was another clear tearjerker for the crowd.

“After my dad passed away, my mom drank herself to death. How can I be surrounded by so many people but feel alone? That’s the best way to explain grief. This is a room where you can cry, you can laugh. Because now I realise how selfish I was to think no one understood that feeling. I’ve learned that people die twice. Once when they die and once when you stop telling their stories, and I’m so proud that with these songs, I feel like one day my kids will know their grandparents. So if you take one thing away from this show, I hope you take away the fact that you should talk to people.”

One segment featured a grown Warren and his wife, filming a message for their future children, during which he showcased a guitar his wife was painting, a prop that later appeared on stage. Although these videos felt somewhat contrived, the audience clearly appreciated this public display of love and affection.

Following that, Warren shifted the mood with a more energetic selection, including songs like ‘Getaway Car,’ ‘Burning Down,’ and the recent release ‘Fever Dream.’ These tracks, reminiscent of bands like OneRepublic, occupy a place between a pop-rock aesthetic and an overly dramatic delivery. However, this section allowed the band to shine, with vibrant guitar riffs filling the arena, offering a welcome break from the concert's earlier emotional intensity.

Warren brought the night to an electrifying close with an extended, five-minute rendition of ‘Ordinary.’ The performance was amplified by bright lighting and a dramatic confetti shower. This energy of the stage stems from Warren's vulnerability, as he shares his grief, hope, and love with his devoted fan base.