When a Crowded Room Feels Like Home: A Bittersweet Finale with Nieve Ella
On a buzzing yet chilly Friday night in Bristol, fans had been lining up since the morning, eagerly awaiting West Midlands rising star Nieve Ella to take the stage at the sold-out Trinity Centre. Bringing the Watch It Ache and Bleed tour to a close, the room was packed with a mix of devoted fans and newcomers, instantly drawn in by her infectious energy and lyrics. The excitement was palpable from the moment fans entered the venue, and as the lights dimmed, it became clear the night would be a deafening time, with the floor vibrating under the weight of endless dancing.
The night kicked off with Exeter’s alt-rock up-comers, Die Twice, whose set solidified why they are steadily gaining traction in the scene. From the opening notes of “Princess,” their performance exuded confidence, blending bluesy riffs with a punk-rock edge. “The Art of Dying” kept the audience on their toes with shifting tempos, erupting into a sea of chanting voices during the chorus, while “Evelyn” captivated with Olly Bayton’s alluring vocals. Their sound – a fusion of soaring alt-rock influences from Arctic Monkeys, Led Zeppelin and The Doors, alongside the poetic lyricism of Jeff Buckley – was both refined as it was raw, offering a modern yet polished take on classical influences. Personally, “Wizard” and moody, film-noir-inspired closing track “Paris” stood out, with Billy Twamley’s intricate guitar work charming the audience, Finn Lloyd’s smoky, velvet bass grooves, and Jake Coles’ steady yet unpredictable drumming providing a fantastic foundation for Bayton’s compelling and unique vocal tone. Leaving the stage to roaring applause, the band undoubtedly earned many new fans, myself included, and I cannot wait to see which stages they will take on next.
With the crowd fully energised, Nieve Ella took the stage to raucous applause, launching straight into “Anything”, the opening track to her latest EP, Watch It Ache and Bleed. Instantly matching her energy, the crowd belted out the lyrics, particularly the EP- and tour-title lyric, “watch it ache and bleed,” bouncing in unison. She seamlessly transitioned into “The Things We Say,” a clear fan favourite, its anthemic chorus echoing through the venue. This song held a particularly special and bittersweet meaning for me, as my first-ever review was published for this track exactly one year prior, making this performance like a full-circle moment.
Her set was an impeccable balance of high-energy, danceable tracks with deeply intimate, emotional moments. Songs like “Blue Shirt Boy” and “Sweet Nothings” saw the crowd harmonising with her and bassist Fran Larkin, their voices blending stunningly while also getting the crowd going “absolutely mental from front to back”, as Ella remarked. “Good Grace,” an unreleased track, proved just how dedicated her ever-growing fanbase is, with many already knowing the lyrics. Slower, more stripped-back moments, such as her beautiful cover of Role Model’s “Look At That Woman”, were a pleasant surprise and seemed well-received even by those unfamiliar with the song. “The Reason” showcased Ella’s raw vulnerability and vocal ability, bathing her in blue lighting as she sat on the stage steps, looking out over the crowd for one last time on this tour.
After the exciting selection of “Fall 4 You” as the final alternate surprise song of the tour, Ella launched into yet another unreleased track, “Lucky Girl,” a powerful rock ballad written in her kitchen with guitarist Finn Marlow. A touching moment followed when a fan gifted her a hand-sewn patchwork T-shirt with the song title.
As the night climaxed, the biggest singalongs were yet to come. “Car Park” reached a fever pitch before shifting into the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Ella then invited Die Twice back on stage for a raucous, chaotic rendition of “Ganni Top (She Gets What She Needs),” transforming the venue into a full-blown party. The floor shook as the audience danced and jumped along, feeding off the sheer joy radiating from the stage. “Meet You In The Middle” brought the main set to an emotional close, with fans chanting for more before Ella returned for an encore.
“Girlfriend” and “His Sofa” rounded off the night before Ella launched into the explosive closer, “Sugarcoated”. She urged the crowd to “jump as hard as you can, dance as much as you can - enjoy yourselves!” When she urged the entire 650-strong, sold-out crowd to crouch down before the song’s bridge, they obeyed in perfect unison, only to explode back up for one final, euphoric chorus. The energy was unmatched, a fitting send-off to a night of euphoria and bittersweet memories of the EP and this tour run.
Attending the final night of a tour always feels like a surreal, dream-like experience, with the post-tour blues hitting harder than ever. Throughout the night, Ella pointed out close family and friends in the crowd while also interacting with fans at the front of the room by giving them guitar plectrums or shouting out the dancing groups at the back. A strong sense of community was reinforced numerous times, evident from years of building it - a family not defined by blood but by shared passion.
With her infectious energy, magnetic stage presence, and deeply personal and captivating lyricism, Ella has laid the foundation for incredible things to come. In Ella’s own words, “the loneliest place is a crowded room,” yet at her shows, that could not be further from the truth. The atmosphere is one of connection, joy, and belonging. Establishing such a devoted community this early in her career already sets Ella apart from many others and will undoubtedly be a game-changer as she reaches even greater heights. With an impressive performance and undeniable charisma, Nieve Ella continues to prove why her music resonates so deeply and why her rise is only just beginning.