Opening singer Katie Malco plays songs from her debut album released last summer. Her lyrics captivate the audience from the off, and are framed by a stunning voice and impeccable left-handed guitar playing. Her cover of Kate Bush’s 'Cloudbusting' is a wonderfully stripped back version and is slower, more soulful and just plain lovely . She is accompanied only by her electric guitar and a ‘bontempi’ type of sound machine and is very impressive and funny. Katie loves talking in-between songs and she even sings a Christmas song 'Be Good at Christmas' mid set! Fenne Lily’s music is mostly of the soft melancholic kind, with whispering but clear vocals, and downbeat electric guitar, neatly interspersed with more upbeat fuzzy guitar songs, soaring vocals and the tendency to rock out such as on 'Alapathy' and 'Solipsism'. Fenne plays songs from her album 'Breach' which was released last September so now she’s thrilled to play it. Starting slowly with the gentle 'Someone Else’s Trees', her voice is what really stands out as the main draw. The brilliant 'Car Park' follows and then 'Hypochondriac' ups the pace a little with the fine line "These complications I have with my health only go as far as I take them." 'Berlin' consists of guitar riffs and chords that seemingly wander slowly in a haze before the instrumentation explodes like a soft heart crying out for answers. Written during her time in Berlin on a solo adventure learning to be by herself, the lyrics are simple. The words"‘It’s not hard to be alone anymore" are repeated throughout, as though her time away and alone is defined by this simple reality. Switching from electric to acoustic, Fenne launches into the brilliantly-titled anthem 'I Used To Hate My Body, Now I Just Hate You' which really unites the audience and makes its mark. Just before the encore, the drummer has the call of nature, so Fenne sings an unaccompanied song called 'Bud' and she needs a little bit of help from some of the audience with the word. At times you could hear a pin drop, but this was one of the highlights of the set. The drummer returns and the set finishes with the up tempo 'Solipsism' with the whole band giving it their all in what is a great way to finish. Fenne Lily and Katie Malco are compelling new British songwriter’s that both have good, friendly competition with US singers Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus. Fenne could just be the next big thing in the UK, and she is accompanied by an equally talented band thoroughly enjoying the thrill of live music again. Photographs by Nige Nudds
Band Links:-
https://www.fenne-lily.com/https://www.facebook.com/fenne.lily/
https://twitter.com/fennelily/
Play in YouTube:-
Picture Gallery:-






intro
Nige Nudds watches and photographs up-and-coming Fenne Lily’s captivating set at a packed Portland Arms in Cambridge.
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr. - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Kay Russell - Interview with Kay Russell
Pulp - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart