Girli storms Hackney’s Oslo with an unforgettable performance for War Child’s Day of the Girl
The Londoner brought her energetic set to Hackney for War Child.
Photo: Billie Wheeler
London-born queer alt-pop artist Girli, the stage name of Milly Toomey, has long used her growing platform to amplify the topics that matter, and her performance for War Child’s Day of the Girl was no exception. Since 2015, she’s been creating rebellious, punk-influenced sapphic anthems that have become solid staples in every queer person’s playlist.
War Child’s Day of the Girl performances aim to raise both awareness and funds for women and girls in war-torn countries and this year Girli, joined by up-and-coming queer pop artist Dirt Flirt, delivered performances to remember in support of this vital cause.
Toomey adopted the stage name Girli to reclaim the word as a source of power, turning what’s often used to belittle into a bold expression of identity and strength, which makes her an ideal artist to raise awareness on this topic. Singing about the highs and lows of love and loss in queer relationships and the challenges that they come with, her music is a rollercoaster of raw grit and emotion, and Toomey herself remains a force to be reckoned with.
Opening the night, Dirt Flirt was first up to smash the stage at Oslo, and her set was one for the books. With infectious energy and stunning vocals, she completely owned the stage and kicked the evening off with a bang. Performing crowd favourites such as don’t tell anyone and PEACH, Dirt Flirt had the entire venue on their feet, buzzing with energy and ready for the insane night that was to come.
Shortly after Dirt Flirt’s high-voltage set, Girli stormed the stage with the kind of unfiltered energy that’s become her signature move. Dressed in a shirt teasing her brand-new track and attitude to knock everyone over, she launched straight into Nothing Hurts Like a Girl, a track that perfectly captures the messy, beautiful complexity of sapphic love. That sense of vulnerability mixed with defiance was delivered through every lyric, setting the tone for the night phenomenally.
From there, Girli moved into Crush Me Up, the first track in the setlist from her latest album, Matriarchy, released in May 2024. The track translates extremely powerfully live, and the crowd responded chaotically with arms raised and screaming voices echoing every line.
The energy peaked as Girli rewound to her 2019 debut EP Odd One Out, dropping Hot Mess and Friday Night Big Screen, both greeted like old friends by a crowd who knew every single word. Her alt-pop-punk edge felt sharper than ever, charging the room with an almost palpable sense of catharsis.
Girli even treated fans to a surprise live debut of her brand-new track with support act Dirt Flirt, I Like Us Better Undressed. The crowd erupted the moment the first notes hit, a special and unexpected addition to the setlist that sent Oslo into a frenzy and showcased the pair’s undeniable chemistry on stage.
Fans were then carried into I Really F**ked It Up and Letter to My Ex, where she channelled heartbreak into something communal, a release of emotions rather than a wound. As the set drew to a close, she powered through More Than a Friend, the track that catapulted her into queer pop stardom, before finishing with Matriarchy, a thundering, powerful anthem of both queer and feminine rebellion.
By the final chord, Oslo was buzzing, sweaty, smiling, and utterly spellbound. Girli didn’t just perform; she commanded, confessed, and connected to everyone in the venue while reminding everyone why she remains one of the most unapologetically authentic voices in the queer music scene.
All photos by Billie Wheeler.