Wolf Alice's Joel Amey: Brit Award Success Still Feels Unreal
How does one process watching Harry Styles perform live moments before being crowned Britain's best musical group? For Wolf Alice drummer Joel Amey, this surreal experience at the recent Brit Awards ceremony remains difficult to fully comprehend. The band secured the Group of the Year award for the second time in their career, yet Amey confesses the magnitude of this achievement has not entirely sunk in.
A Swift Victory Amidst Stellar Performances
The quartet, who released their critically praised fifth album The Clearing in August 2025, triumphed over notable competitors like Pulp and Wet Leg during the February ceremony at Manchester's Co-op Arena. Amey, who previously celebrated a similar win in 2022 following the release of Blue Weekend, shared his disbelief with Metro. "The award we won happened quite quickly," he recalled. "I remember having my mind blown by Harry Styles, and then I was on the stage with Bez. Maybe it hasn't sunk in."
During the winners' carpet event, someone reminded Amey that this marked Wolf Alice's second Brit Award in this category. "I was looking at it, and looking at the other three band members, and I don't think I had the time to process it until that second," he admitted. The drummer emphasized that creative inspiration rarely stems from chasing accolades. "You don't really go into a recording studio thinking 'how can we get all the awards?' It's not what drives you."
Using the Platform for Grassroots Advocacy
Wolf Alice utilized their acceptance speech to spotlight the crisis facing the UK's grassroots music scene. Frontwoman Ellie Roswell cited Music Industry Trust findings revealing that 30 venues closed in 2025, resulting in the loss of 6,000 jobs. "It shouldn't feel like a golden ticket, but a viable career decision for anyone from any background," Roswell declared, highlighting Britain's proud musical heritage.
Amey reflected on how independent venues like the Boiler Room in Guildford shaped his musical journey. "The venues shaped me as a person," he stated. "When you're trying to be a band, you're not going to start playing Wembley Stadium. We made loads of mistakes in front of people for years in those venues, and we got to the stage where we could perform live on the Brits."
He stressed the importance of protecting these spaces. "Grassroots venues are your best friends because they are so accepting of you in any shape or form. But it's wider than that – we should be safeguarding music all the way from schools upwards, not just for careers but for mental health. The way I am as a person is so much stronger because of music."
Upcoming Royal Albert Hall Performance
Wolf Alice is set to perform at the Robert Smith-curated Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall later this month. The series, featuring acts like Elbow, Mogwai, and My Bloody Valentine, represents a significant milestone for the band. Amey expressed awe at receiving an invitation from The Cure legend via an email written entirely in capital letters. "To get that email was like, wow, I didn't even know we were on Robert Smith's radar," he said.
He praised both the charity and the venue. "The charity is amazing. Then you put the Royal Albert Hall into it – there's so much wow factor. We're really excited to play. We're going to try something different. We want this to be special." Amey recalled visiting the Royal Albert Hall only once before as a child to watch Cream with his mother.
Looking Ahead to New Music and Tours
Wolf Alice's momentum shows no signs of waning, with festival appearances and global tour dates scheduled throughout 2026. The band is already contemplating new material. Amey acknowledged the unintentional gap between Blue Weekend and The Clearing, attributing it to logistical challenges that ultimately benefited the album's development. "It afforded the album to grow even more and become better than it might have been," he explained.
He expressed gratitude for their label's support and enthusiasm for continued evolution. "I love The Clearing, but I'm playing these shows thinking we could do something different. We have every intention this year – literally out of enjoyment – to keep making new stuff. That's because the four of us really want to."
Wolf Alice will perform their Teenage Cancer Trust show with special guest Nilufer Yanya on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Royal Albert Hall.
