Nieve Ella Takes KOKO by Storm with an Iconic Sold-Out Performance

Last Wednesday, Nieve Ella took to the stage for a sold-out show at KOKO in Camden, marking her biggest ever headline show to date.

The Watch it Ache and Bleed tour, named after her latest EP, has spent the past month touring the UK and Europe with over 15 dates.

Since the release of her first single, Girlfriend, in July 2022, Nieve’s rise to fame has been remarkable. From support slots with the likes of Dylan, Inhaler and Girl in Red, she has amassed a strong, supportive group of diehard fans. Lining the streets of Camden wearing bows, lace and her latest merch, her fans queued outside KOKO ready to witness Nieve deliver an unforgettable show.

Opening the show was Nieve’s best friend and London-based singer, Fred Roberts. Already well known by many of Nieve’s fans, his raw, emotive songs connected with the audience and created a perfect opening set. Fred effortlessly warmed up the crowd as he performed an acoustic cover of Sabrina Carpenter’s Taste, and belted out his debut single Runaway.

Minutes before Nieve stepped onto the stage, Chappell Roan’s HOT TO GO! was blasting through the speakers. The crowd were hyped up, performing the iconic routine in unison, and the energy in the room was electric. As soon as the song ended, the lights went down and screams erupted.

Nieve’s infectious energy was clear from the start. Opening with Anything, the first song on her latest EP Watch It Ache and Bleed, the crowd screamed back every word. The Things We Say – a song written about her opener and best friend, Fred Roberts – was next. Previously performed as an unreleased song on her last headline tour in February 2024, this track has made its way onto her latest EP, fast becoming a fan favourite.

Blu Shirt Boy and Sweet Nothings followed, with the audience singing every word. Wanting to do something special for the London show, she brought out some of her loved ones to join her on stage for backing vocals on Sweet Nothings. The harmonies of the bridge, ‘Call me lovely down in Circus Lane / Oh, I love the way you say my name’, filled the venue, captivating the crowd and creating a moment of intimacy at the iconic KOKO.

With only three EPs to her name, the devoted following Nieve has garnered over the past few years is staggering. The close bond she shares with her fans was evident the whole night, but when she performed an unreleased song, Good Grace, it was clear just how dedicated her fanbase is. Describing the song as “Ganni Top’s little sister” (another upbeat song featured on her latest EP), every lyric was screamed back despite it not even being out on streaming platforms.

Humbled by the size of the venue, Nieve took a moment to appreciate the evening and shouted out her fellow bandmates: Finn Marlow on guitar, Fran Larkin on bass and Matt Garnett on drums. Her gratitude was present throughout her performance, thanking the fans and sharing how much the night meant to her.

Switching things up with a cover of Role Model’s Look At That Woman, she got the crowd jumping and singing along to the catchy chorus. The set then took on a slower pace, with two personal tracks: Glasshouses and The Reason. Bringing Fred Roberts back on stage for a duet of The Reason, Nieve’s voice was filled with raw emotion as she sang about heartbreak: ‘It’s cool when I’m around you but as soon as we’re apart / We fight like it’s survival and it’s breaking our hearts’.

Injecting energy back into the room, Nieve owned the stage during Stop Me!, Your Room and Car Park, showing just how diverse her set can be, and her ability to switch from emotional ballads to high-energy pop songs. Met with cheers, she treated the crowd to the first ever live performance of Lucky Girl, another unreleased track.

A real highlight, and arguably the pinnacle of the set, was Ganni Top (She Gets What She Needs), a fast-paced, catchy crowd-pleaser which had everyone bouncing. Dominating the stage, Nieve jumped around with confidence, interacting with her bandmates and belting out the chorus. The band’s enthusiasm never faltered. Their high-energy was consistent throughout the whole gig, right up until the last song of the main set, Meet You In The Middle, the final track from the Watch It Ache and Bleed EP.

After chants of “one more song”, the encore began with two classics: her debut single Girlfriend and a fan favourite from an earlier EP, His Sofa. Nieve then paused the set, getting the crowd to wish her bassist, Fran, a happy birthday – a wholesome moment which made the show feel extra special.

The night ended with Sugarcoated, a song about her experience finding fame. The crowd screamed the opening line ‘Looks like you’ve gone and made it’, cheering and pointing at her on stage. Her gratitude for her fanbase is present throughout Sugarcoated, and the lyric, ‘How can you handle a thousand fans? / It’s all I’ve dreamt’ felt particularly significant as she sang it to the 1,500-strong KOKO crowd.

Despite being so early on in her career, Nieve exudes confidence, and her stage presence was that of a veteran rockstar. She had the crowd in the palm of her hand the entire set, putting on an unforgettable performance to mark her biggest headline show to date. For only £16.50 a ticket, Nieve and her band put on a performance worthy of a venue ten times the size. If you haven’t listened to Nieve Ella before – now’s your chance. As one of the most exciting emerging artists of today, Nieve is destined for big things, and this is definitely just the beginning.