Eileen Alister | Melkweg Max | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
March 7, 2026
Photographed by Rosalie Martens
If we’re talking about a match made in heaven, we’re talking about Jolina Louise and Eileen Alister.
Fans from all over Europe came together for the biggest headline show of the tour in Amsterdam, and the excitement could be felt all around. While waiting in line, the fans traded friendship bracelets, made chalk drawings on the streets and got ready together for the show, turning the queue into its own little community.
The dress code was very clear — tiaras, polka dots, lace and anything that made you feel like a princess.
Eileen Alister is a rising pop artist from Switzerland whose music has quickly connected with fans across Europe. Through emotional songwriting and honest lyrics about heartbreak, identity and mental health, she has built a strong and dedicated fanbase. What started with smaller, intimate performances has now grown into her second headline tour, bringing the same songs to bigger stages. It also includes her latest EP Room Service, which is connected to her debut album Honeymoon in a Motel.
Opener Jolina Louise’s set was full of high-energy pop. She started off with an unreleased song, which immediately had the crowd singing along to the words, setting the tone for the first few songs on the setlist. Louise then shifted to the powerfully-emotional song, “Universe” where everyone held up their flashlights. The same energy continued into “The Fall,” which left the crowd completely in awe. She ended off strong with “No One Compares” and “Red Lights,” getting everyone dancing. Louise even invited a few fans to dance her choreography alongside her up on stage.
But, on stage or not, even at the back of the crowd the fans were enthusiastically dancing along. This was Louise’s first time performing in Amsterdam, but after a successful opening night, it already holds a lot of promise for the future.
The high energy of dancing and singing along stayed during the pre-show playlist and erupted when “Come on Eileen” by Denys Midnight Runners started playing. This is the moment fans knew Alister was almost ready, and the fans screamed the lyrics for the artist to get on stage and for the night of fun to begin.
Suddenly, the light dimmed down and an instrumental intro of “Head Over Heels” started playing. With Jwan Steiner on drums and Severin Tresch on guitar, it created a powerful opening moment, and the entire room instantly started screaming. Alister then enthusiastically ran on stage, waving to the crowd. She immediately heard the entire room singing the lyrics back to her, and it was clear this was the start of a show they would never forget.
Alister walked on stage wearing the most gorgeous white dress with ruffles alongside eye-catching accessories like pearls, a star ring and bangles that complement the outfit so well. I was so in awe in the first few seconds that I almost forgot I was there to photograph.
All of Alister’s tour outfits are designed by Anique Wild, and each show had a custom look, which really highlights the effort that gets put into every single show on this tour.
The setlist continued with bangers like “Playing House,” which has a beautiful build up to the chorus. You could feel the anticipation in the room as the song slowly grew, until the whole crowd joined in for the chorus together. The rhythm of the song really pulled the audience into the performance, with everyone swaying along and singing every word back to her. Another highlight was “Touch Me Where They Can’t,” which had such a strong instrumental start that filled the room immediately. The intensity of the music mixed with Alister’s voice created such a powerful live moment, and you could see the crowd getting completely pulled into the song. It’s one of those songs where anyone could feel the connection between the artist and the audience, with everyone locked into the breathtaking performance.
Then “Heartbeat” began to play, already bringing tears to a few fans eyes. Each fan held up a heart with the text “you keep our hearts beating,” filling the entire room with small light-pink hearts that created a soft pink glow across the crowd. From the stage, Alister looked out at the audience and you could see her taking in the moment. Fans hugged their friends while singing along, some wiping away tears; The energy in the room shifted from excitement to something more emotional. Alister sat down to perform “Training Wheels” and the room became completely quiet as everyone sang along softly, holding onto their friends while the lyrics echoed throughout the venue.
After such an emotional moment, the mood lifted again with “Corpse Bride” where the crowd instantly began jumping along to the beat and the whole room filled with energy again. Alister joined the crowd in the middle and sang “Bet You Hate Me” where she held a few fans hands. She then performed “What’s a Girl Gotta Do?” where the crowd sang louder than Alister who had a microphone. Everyone was dancing, jumping and singing along. I was smiling so much the whole way through, because this was a real fangirl moment for every person in that room where nothing mattered except dancing and singing with your friends.
The intro of “Bit the Bullet” started playing while Alister made her way back to the stage, and she came back with a fan she picked out from the crowd. She introduced the fan as Nora and revealed the surprise song of the show to be “Made of Glass” — a very special song for a few Amsterdam fans. Back in October 2024, she played a small show with about 50 people in Vondelpark where she sang this song for them. Alister described it as a full circle moment, going from that small show to this headliner in her dream venue.
Something I felt throughout the entire show and in Alister’s music is that she spreads such strong, uplifting and important messages to her audience. Throughout her music and live performances, these messages are clearly at the heart of everything she does. Near the end of her show, Alister told the crowd, “I will say this at every show until everyone gets it, mental health deserves the same attention as physical health.” This message shows that she has created a space where people feel seen and understood. Moments like that make it clear that her music is more than just music for a lot of people, and it shows the real impact she has on her audience’s lives.
She ended the show with a few personal favourites like “KEEP IT COOL” and “Silly Crush.” During these songs, I admired her performance, dancing along and just enjoying the moment. From the crowd, I observed how she is really connected to fans during her performance. Alister notices the people who are singing the lyrics and dancing, holding their hands and enthusiastically skipping over the stage from one side to another. She also lets down her pinned hair, which is such a beautiful symbol of letting go, one that appears throughout her music. It made the moment feel more free and spontaneous, like she was sharing that final moment with the crowd.
During the last moments, she even burst into tears on stage while the crowd was chanting “Eileen” repeatedly, making it clear just how much this show meant to her and the fans. It felt like the perfect ending, with a reminder of why live music is so special.
Grab your tickets to see Eileen Alister here!
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