On February 10, Nieve Ella returned to Glasgow to play her first headline gig in Scotland. All tickets were snatched up within hours of releasing.
The highly anticipated gig is the third of six in her Lifetime of Wanting UK tour, which was announced shortly after she finished touring with Inhaler.
The supporting act
Opening for Nieve was Dutch singer Stevie Bill, who, alongside her guitarist Jacob, delighted fans with her songs, including her newest single Hurts to Hold On as well as a cover of Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Perhaps the most noteworthy point of Stevie’s performance was when she brought her best friend, Inès, onto the stage with her. The moment was so tender, with everyone watching quietly as the two friends sang to each other. Finishing with her single Hahaha, fans cheered as Stevie thanked them and left the stage.
As members of Nieve’s band came out to prepare their instruments and ensure everything was ready, they were greeted with eager screams. As the lights dimmed and a melody from Nieve’s titular track began to play, everyone braced themselves, ready to watch the star walk onto the stage.
Nieve Ella’s set
Starting off with her single Big House, Nieve immediately throws you into a dance. The catchy tune sets the atmosphere for the rest of the concert, with just a few slower songs thrown into the mix.
This includes Lifetime of Wanting, the final track off of her latest EP of the same name. When the first notes of this song begin to play, the sea of heads with ribbons woven in the hair stop moving, listening intently to the lyrics and, in some cases, begin to cry. When Nieve finishes this song, she signals to the audience on the repeated lyric, “You’re everything I wanted.”
Along with her own tracks, Nieve included some covers. Amongst them were set regulars White Roses by Flyte and You and Me Song by the Wannadies, which she cleverly mixes with a verse from her song Blu Shirt Boy.
But when she started singing the refrain “and if Saturday don’t come soon,” an unprecedented reaction begins as fans produce a wave of screams, likely a mix of shock and joy.
Nieve has previously covered Saturday on her TikTok account and given that Sam Fender played the same venue only a few years prior to Nieve, it was the perfect way to pay homage to one of her favourite artists.
Nieve took time in between songs to talk about the tour, and even interact with fans. At one point, she took a Scottish flag from the crowd, which had names written all over it, and prompted her to do her best Braveheart reenactment, saying “Scotland Foreverrr” into the mic.
The modern indie-rock genre is perfectly encapsulated within Nieve’s music, as well as other influences from the likes of Julia Jacklin. Each member of her band plays an integral part in creating her unique sound and recreating it on stage.
Meet the band
On bass, Fran Larkin provides an enigmatic performance, shaking her hair and swaying along to the music as she plays. Finn Marlow plays lead guitar; his casual stance makes you focus on his electrifying playing, and his backing vocals (along with Fran’s) create a beautiful harmony.
Matt Garnett is on drums, and he can only be described as the vibe-keeper. His enthusiasm is reflected in his playing, and he provides such an important aspect of Nieve’s music.
Then, of course, there is Nieve Ella herself, whose personality and raw talent make her destined for the stage and a life of performing. Her vocal ability enables her to switch between upbeat and melancholic tunes, and aspects of multiple genres are reflected here.
Despite a few technical difficulties, the concert was euphoric, and if not for the band themselves, the dedication of the fans, jumping up and down and screaming the words to every song, made it all the more enjoyable.
Nieve and her band finish the UK tour with two dates in Birmingham and one in London before moving onto their European tour in April.
Feature Image Credit: Max Rowley.
