A night of emotional catharsis and powerful storytelling. RØRY invites us with open arms and an even wider heart to listen to some of the most impactful music of the DIY scene. Please welcome…
RØRY
Did somebody say conga?! No, really – Brighton duo Lake Malice are nothing short of a revelation. Their fusion of hyper-pop and metal has the crowd hooked from the get-go; with Alice Guala’s fiery metal screams and Blake Cornwall’s shredding riffs, it’s no surprise they’ve got festival slots lined up for the year ahead. Their recent single Scatterbrain echoes throughout the sound system with crowd surfers soaring overhead and yes, really, there was a conga pit. You don’t get that at every gig, do you?
As December Falls are a band who should be on everyone’s radar, especially given they’re a hometown band. Vengaboy’s Boom Boom Boom Boom!! welcomes lead singer Bethany Curtis high-kicking and twirling around the stage without missing a beat (she even takes the time to sign an autograph book handed up from the audience, a lovely personal touch in the midst of their electrifying set). Armed with the artillery of angst-ridden anthems, tracks like Angry Cry and Therapy tease their upcoming album, and it’s clear they’ve been simmering under the surface for far too long. Sometimes the best acts slip through the cracks, but we have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the future.
The future… the past… what is the difference really? RØRY is a late bloomer in the music scene, and her journey has been nothing short of inspiring. At forty, she’s already carved out a space for herself as a campaigner for ADHD awareness, a force of empathy in an often-overlooked corner of mental health advocacy. Tonight, we have Black Cherry Lounge as an allocated ‘Quiet Space’ sanctuary, and her tour beats our record for the largest wheelchair accessible show in Rock City history; however, it’s onstage where RØRY truly shines. Taking the stage with a simple yet atmospheric set-up, a backdrop that gave the stage a vaguely cathedral-like feel, In the Bible, invokes immediate intimacy in her performance – what follows is nothing short of a group therapy session in the guise of a gig.
“Did we just have a mosh pit?! Seems like you might be having too much fun!”
Throughout the show, RØRY’s ability to weave her personal story into the fabric of her setlist is nothing short of magnetic. When she cries, we cry. When she laughs, we laugh. These are the moments when the entire room is united in a shared experience of vulnerability; she brings Bethany Curtis out for a powerful duet on My Funeral Song, and later, her performance of Jesus & John Lennon has the crowd holding their phone torches aloft as they join in on the emotionally charged anthem.
One of the most poignant moments comes when she performs One Drink Away. After climbing the balcony stairs to perform an acoustic rendition, RØRY shares her battle with addiction, candidly speaking to the audience about how recovery isn’t a linear path. Her openness, combined with the energy of the crowd, transforms the evening into something profoundly cathartic. “I’ve made some terrible decisions in my life, but I’ve made one really good one,” As she returns to the stage, her partner rushes to wrap her up in a massive hug. “It’s your chosen family that defines you. We need hope and acceptance, and a good kick up the arse sometimes, and I’m so lucky to have found that in this community!”
“I’m here to tell you that you f**king matter and there is a family here for you!”
ANTI-REPRESSANT and ALTERNATIVE are as bold and as bright as a casanova. Truly cosmic. They’re the lighter moments of the night and weigh just as heavy as the darker points, especially for Family Tree. “Grief will unfortunately come to all of us at some point. Raise your hand if you’ve lost someone?” RØRY makes sure to involve the crowd in her journey, asking them to look around at one another and recognise that they aren’t alone. “Grief makes you feel so f**king alone but you’re not. This is your family; this is your community.”
At its core, the gig is about connection, empathy, and the shared human experience of struggle. When the show ends, the crowd are left with more than just the sound of Restoration echoing in their ears. They leave with the knowledge that they were part of something real, something bigger than just a show.
RØRY PERFORMED SUNDAY 9TH MARCH
WORDS: TALIA ROBINSON
ROCK CITY NOTTINGHAM
We’re not only Nottingham’s favourite venue and nightclub – we’re the UK’s best live venue with a rich history of performers that have played here. We still have goosebumps from the RØRY show!
Also while you’re at it, why not check out our gig guide and see if any other of your favourite artists like RØRY are playing soon! We also have our club nights on a Thursday (Tuned), Friday (Get Lucky) and Saturday (Rebel Rebel) so check those out too!
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