SLEEPING AT LAST CAPTURE THE HEARTS OF THOUSANDS AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

LIVE REVIEW | SLEEPING AT LAST | LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL by Kevin O’Sullivan

Earlier this week, the Royal Albert Hall became a cathedral of stillness, emotion, and reverence as Sleeping At Last, the moniker of singer-songwriter and composer Ryan O’Neal, delivered a breathtaking performance that will linger in hearts for years to come. 

Known for his profoundly emotional songwriting and cinematic arrangements, Ryan has spent the better part of two decades creating music that feels like a soul speaking. From humble beginnings as part of a band in the early 2000s to becoming a beloved solo artist whose songs have scored everything from weddings to film trailers (Turning Page famously featured in Twilight: Breaking Dawn), his gift lies in crafting music that feels deeply personal and universally resonant. 

The concert was split into two halves, each lovingly curated and supported by the London Contemporary Orchestra, whose lush arrangements only heightened the beauty and intimacy of each note. From the first soft swell of ‘Sun‘, the audience was utterly spellbound. There was a tangible sense of silent appreciation in the room – minimal phones on display, just deep, respectful stillness. 

 Every song was a highlight, but the emotional peak came during ‘Mother’, a heartbreakingly honest tribute to Ryan’s late mother. With raw vulnerability, Ryan shared how profoundly she had shaped his life and artistry. As the song unfolded, tears visibly welled in his eyes — and in many others across the hall. It was a rare, communal moment of shared grief, love, and connection, as music transcended entertainment to become a living, breathing act of remembrance. 

Other unforgettable performances included ‘Turning Page’, ‘Saturn’, and the deeply moving ‘You Are Enough’ — songs that showcased not only Ryan’s delicate voice and poetic lyricism but his extraordinary ability to make an entire audience feel held, seen, and understood. 

Ryan’s music has long been a safe place for many — a quiet space where emotions can rise and fall without fear. At the Royal Albert Hall, that space became real, vast, and filled with love. A transcendent evening of music, memory, and meaning.  

Setlist:

Sun, Turning Page, North, Neptune, Venus, Touch, Sight, Believe, Light, Hearing, You Are Enough, Moon/Earth, Six, Three, Two, Mother, Daughter, Saturn, Bloom, Nine