The indie-pop act bring their sound to Heaven for an unforgettable set.

Even before stepping foot in the venue, I had high hopes for this concert. With a recent release from headliners BLOXX, positive reviews from earlier tour dates, and being the first live gig I’d seen since Covid, there were big shoes to fill. Not once during this performance did anything or anyone disappoint. 

First up was opening act Emma McGrath, a name I’d never heard before but whose music was on repeat the next day. A simple three-woman band, she produced addictive melodies and had a great command of the stage. Standout songs were Mad About It, and my personal favourite, Fall with You. We were even treated to a cameo by BLOXX frontrunner Fee (Ophelia Booth) when she appeared to join McGrath on bass for one of their closing songs.  

Next on stage were The Rills, who continued to drive up the hype with their high energy set. The group had a thicker and meatier sound than McGrath, and the display of musicianship was incredible. Again, a three-man band, but a massive sound. World Leaders and We Like To Do It Differently were the highlights for me, and are a great example of the range these guys have on offer.

Bit by bit, Heaven continued to fill with Vans, plaid shirts, and puffer wearing fans (of which I was the latter). Finally, BLOXX danced onto the stage to an anxiously awaiting crowd and got right down to it. Opening with last year’s hugely successful Lie Out Loud from the album of the same name, the group burst into melodies and music, and everyone came alive. 

Despite how much I’ve enjoyed listening to BLOXX’s recorded tracks, I was astounded at how much more the band had to offer during a live performance. The setlist took us on a massive journey of their creative career so far; ranging from tracks like You from their very first label all the way to Magnet from their most recent EP. Fee was unafraid of adding personal touches to their chosen songs, speaking candidly about her struggles with addiction before the single Emily, and revealing her relationship with McGrath when the two performed an acoustic duet of What I Needed (which was a beautifully intimate moment, might I add).  

The talent on stage was unreal, from lyricist and singer Fee’s crisp and powerhouse vocals, to the insane riffs and solos we were treated to by guitarist Taz Sidhu. Drummer Joe Kinton drove the hype forward the entire night, playing with the beats of some songs to give us something completely fresh, whilst bassist Paul Raubišķis’ rhythms kept our hearts and feet in time with the bass pounding through the floor. 

Throughout the night, it felt like both band and audience were feeding off each other’s infectious energy, pushing the other further. Almost inevitably, a mosh pit exploded during BLOXX’s other headline song Pop Culture Radio and lasted for the remainder of the night. The band gave absolutely everything to the set, playing fan favourites Go Out With You to 5000 Miles, and closed with two tracks which mean a lot to them: Coming Up Short and Everything I’ve Ever Learned. By the end of it, Fee was in tears, either from disbelief, exhaustion, or sheer euphoria. It was clear that this performance meant an incredible amount to the band, and it was a privilege to be there to share in their concert high.

I walked away from this performance filled with adrenaline, a new BLOXX t-shirt on my back, and excited for whatever comes next for them.