Fickle Friends, Palmists, Tadgh Daly at The Art Centre, Norwich, Wednesday 18th June 2025
By Jess Writes
Photography by Scream Photographic
Firstly, lovely readers, for clarity, I am not a music reviewer. I am a writer. So, you’re going to have a writer’s point of view on the evening.
To start, Norwich Arts Centre is a spectacular venue; the beautiful building with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, and in the main auditorium with the stunning high ceilings is a perfect back drop to any event.
Palmist
Opening the night with a burst of energy, Palmist were instantly alive! The five piece band were a lively group with a duality in their sound, perhaps linked to the early days in an previous formation of the band in which there was a rock sound, Palmist as we see them now in their post-covid formation, are much more 80’s alt/dance pop; but there are still tendrils of that rock history that comes through. The duality from the rock and pop gives the band almost two unique sounds, but ones which have the cohesiveness for it to work as part of one show.
A favourite of mine from the night was the amusing take on toxic masculinity and ‘alpha’ culture, in 2nd Place, the upbeat synth sounds a distinct contrast hiding the insecurity in the lyrics. As they brought the first section to an end with the same high energy that they started with, engaging with a crowd who were absolutely buying what Palmist was selling, they got the whole room involved (minus me) to jumping around like loons, it was fun and engaging and reflective of the band itself.
The sound is well rounded, though in the live shows I felt there was some hollowness in the sound, almost as if something was missing. That said, in a band who have been together for two years, forming through online searches for musicians talented in their chosen instruments, they come together well, providing a fun, dance and pop rock tunes.
Tadgh Daly
Varying from the other acts, Tadgh Daly was an intense emotional journey of folk country sounds. Instantly I loved this music, as I currently am really into country music, a genre which is gain traction in the UK. Tadgh Daly would easily stand amongst the likes of Austin Snell or Corey Kent. Delivering powerful lyrics with a smokey smooth voice, when he belted the words, you felt them.
“You’re not a monster,
you’re somebody’s daughter,
and you’re just as scared as me”
Was an intense lyric of forgiveness and understanding, regardless of whether Tadgh Daly would say he believed it, as a listener, I did. Opening up that vulnerability of being human, which was a theme carried through many of Tadgh’s songs – of love, heartbreak and insecurity. At one point,
the act is stripped back to just Tadgh, singing Beautifully Bad, a haunting tale of toxic love, this version of the song was enchanting and soul destroying, certainly for anyone who has experienced that love – told with such simplistic vulnerability.
This was a set of songs that had a highly emotional narrative, one that was told to us through music that was both shattering and uplifting, and one I look forward to experiencing again.
Fickle Friends
First thing, this is a band who if you told me there were touring huge venues, I would not be surprised. They were polished, knew their sound and had such and engaging and enticing presence. During their set, the band opened up on pausing their music careers, having fallen out of love with it. Coming onto that stage in Norwich Arts Centre, there was immediate passion, love and music you loved listening to, I can’t speak for the before, but the now was spectacular – I’m glad they took the break to come back to us like this.
Instantly, even before singer, Natassja Shiner, takes the stage, people are bopping along to the indie synth pop of Fickle Friends which trickles out of the room, the crowd doubles in size, and the main attraction and owned it. Lead Singer, Natti, has a beautiful voice, the song Swoon lives up to its name and has the crowd swooning along with her.
Happier was a joyful telling of accepting and choosing happiness, full of synth beats, and bop along vibes. Fickle Friends as a whole were so together, rightfully confident, and genuinely talented. I cannot imagine a near future in which they aren’t headlining big festivals.
Music Venue Trust
Fickle Friends Highlighted a sad truth facing the live music scene… The decline in live music venues in the UK. Of course, by now we know that Covid had a lasting impact on much of the hospitality industry, a changing society and surging costs have had implications in a whole myriad of ways.
It was therefore great to see such an excellent show come to Norfolk.
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