LIVE REVIEW | NIEVE ELLA w/ Fred Roberts | MANCHESTER NEW CENTURY HALL 8th March 2025
2024 was a groundbreaking year for Nieve Ella. From dominating the UK’s biggest festival bills to joining Girl In Red as opener on her UK/European Tour dates, by the time her third EP Watch It Ache and Bleed, Nieve Ella earned recognition as one of the most exciting emerging indie solo artists. Her UK tour saw nearly every show sell out upon announcement, leading to venue upgrades, and her fan base is rapidly multiplying by the thousands.
After a month of captivating audiences across Europe, it was time to bring the show closer to home. On Saturday 8th March – also International Women’s Day 2025 – Nieve took the stage for her largest headline performance in Manchester yet at New Century Hall.
The room was vivacious in anticipation of Nieve’s arrival with enthusiasm filling every corner of the room. Fans donned the latest merchandise, while some showcased their creativity with homemade outfits inspired by Nieve. These weren’t just casual supporters; they were devoted followers, fully committed to the cause.
Fred Roberts
Opening the show tonight was the sublime budding talent, Fred Roberts. Becoming recognisable for his emotive, anthemic indie rock sound, his candid discussions about being a young queer man, navigating the coming-out, and embracing authenticity have also garnered him much admiration. Having recently supported Griff on her European tour, Fred is well-prepared for his role as the opener, and he truly shines this evening. The audience seems just as excited for Fred as they are for Nieve, with one enthusiastic fan leaving him nearly speechless by gifting him a Union Jack flag adorned with the faces of both Nieve and Fred.
Nieve Ella
The crowd were left on a high following Roberts opening set, with anticipation building every moment of the interval. As Chappell Roan’s ‘Hot To Go’ blazed through the speakers, the audience erupted in dance and song before the lights dropped and the main act emerged from the shadows. As the first few notes of ‘Anything’ filled the walls of New Century Hall, voices were screaming back every word. By the time the chorus rolled around, the entire venue was alive and bouncing. Nieve Ella had arrived.
After noticing a surprising collection of Noah Kahan masks in the crowd earlier that evening, the anticipation surrounding this unexpected sight didn’t linger for long. As track 2, “The Things We Say,” began, fans enthusiastically lifted their masks and shouted “Noah Kahan” instead of the actual lyric, “No I can’t,” during the chorus. I love an in-joke at concerts, where the connection between fans and the artist creates a special moment that simply can’t be replicated through headphones.
Performing tracks from all three of her EP releases, the set was primarily made up of latest release Watch It Ache and Bleed [2024] with all 8 tracks played tonight. . ‘Sweet Nothings’, ‘The Reason’ made an early appearance whilst ‘Ganni Top (She Gets What She Needs)’ and ‘Meet Me In The Middle’ coming towards the end of the show. A previously unreleased song is met with a warm reaction, as is the return of fan favourite ‘Big House’, which Nieve admits hasn’t been played live in some time. There’s even a cover slipped into the set list too, with ROLE MODEL‘s ‘Look At That Woman’ getting an airing tonight. Every track consistently met with euphoric enthusiasm, the biggest sing-alongs of the night coming from ‘Carpark’ and the ultimate crowd pleaser ‘Ganni Top’.
There’s an undeniable unity in the air tonight, something unique that’s hard to define but feels truly special. Artists like Nieve Ella are exactly what the UK indie rock scene craves at this moment, particularly for young women who connect with her impactful voice, both in her music and her message. Nieve exudes confidence and authenticity, bringing a sense of joy that makes her captivating on stage, while her talent shines through as raw, genuine, and utterly addictive.
Returning for a three song encore, the night feels over too fast – despite performing for well over an hour. Ending on ‘Sugarcoated’ the set comes to a natural close but as the lights come back on and reality begins to return there’s a bittersweet feeling emerging; the feeling of ‘what now?’ as the post-gig blues begin to creep in. Nieve Ella could have easily performed her entire discography twice, and fans would still be crying for more, which is a hallmark of an exceptional concert.
Remaining tour date info, including last tickets are available here https://tix.to/NieveElla
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