Sigrid at The Fleece 11/05/2022

Norwegian superstar Sigrid Raabe was in town last night, but you could’ve missed her ‘cosy tour’: a wonderfully wholesome two-part event. Hosted by Rough Trade, the night offered an up-close and personal opportunity for fans to gain an insight into her new album, How to Let Go. Sigrid released her first album, Sucker Punch, back in 2019: The Guardian called it a collection of “killer choruses and cool, crisp production”. But last night was all about the second edition to this electro, synth-pop collection.

We began with a wonderfully heart-warming version of Burning Bridges, greeted by a round of applause that consumed the venue. The night then moved into Risk of Getting Hurt, Thank Me Later brought the night to a more sombre level, while It Gets Dark allowed fans to see Sigrid’s new set opener. The song’s darker intro, which moves into a fascinating optimistic tone, offers a fresh perspective to her dynamics. Next was a personal highlight of the night, A Driver Saved My Night, which was followed by an intimate rendition of Sigrid’s new collaboration with Bring Me the Horizon: Bad Life… all completed with Glow.

Last time Sigrid came to Bristol, it was for her first album tour, at the O2 Academy. Prior to that, in 2018, she was at Motion. Last night was her half-way mark on the cosy tour, and the Bristol show was divided into two parts: a matinee performance and an evening show… both completely sold out, proving the popularity and praise for her band and new album. How To Let Go was released barely a week ago, but it has already received countless positive reviews, including NME’s four-star review, which concluded that it’s a great combination of “rocky riffs and jumbo hooks”. Last night gave fans a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with the 25-year-old’s phenomenal lyrics and captivating vocals. Next up, Sigrid is off to Bournemouth and Leeds, and then tops off this intimate, week-long tour and promo in Kingston on Sunday.

And if you haven’t managed to get tickets, don’t worry! Her full UK and Ireland tour kicks off later this year (in November), starting with Liverpool and ending in Dublin. Sigrid will also be performing at the Isle of Wight Festival, as well as making a return to Glastonbury, where she first performed in 2019, after her album reached no.1 on the Norwegian charts and no. 4 on the UK’s. It’ll certainly be interesting to see whether this new album can top that? But if last night was anything to go by, this will likely be another incredibly successful year.

Review by Harry Odgers