Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

English Teacher came to The Roxy’s stage in Hollywood on September 13 for their 2025 US Tour, for night number four of a limited eight-date run, which maybe makes it seem like they aren’t touring much– except that I just went through their setlist.fm history, and they’ve barely gone a week without playing a gig since 2023. This is a hard working band who are always on stage playing music for their fans.

Formed in 2020 in the UK, the band is fronted by Lily Fontaine and backed by Lewis Whiting on guitar and synths, Douglas Frost on drums, piano, synthesizer, and backing vocals, Nicholas Eden on bass, plus Blossom Caldarone touring on cello. They got a big bump in name recognition when they won England’s coveted Mercury Prize last year, and if the packed nature of the crowd at The Roxy was any indicator, they’re about to become a lot more well known in the U.S.

California-native openers Chatterton warmed up the crowd, and by the time English Teacher took the stage the fans were ready to sing Fontaine’s lyrics back to her. English Teacher is unique as a band, kind of their own animal– you get the soaring vocals, occasional backup vox by drummer Frost, you get some pop, and some rock, and then you get the beautiful cello lushing up the musical backdrop. Then in the middle of the set comes a quiet show-stopper, “You Blister My Paint,” then another track with no drums at all, “Mastermind Specialism,” and then a full rocker like “R&B.”

There’s a lot for fans to grab on to with English Teacher, and it will be a joy to see how they grow and change or stay close to their roots in the next few years. David J (of Love and Rockets and Bauhaus) who was in the crowd probably said it best on Instagram when he called them a “brilliant young band from Yorkshire.”

For all the latest English Teacher news and information, check out www.englishteacher.com and @englishteacherband