Gig review: Josie Beth at Rough Trade

Dorothy Ella kicked off the night, with a powerful, self-affirming anthem about the importance of self-love coming early in the set, as she said, "it’s something we all need to do a bit more of.”  

Dorothy is usually joined by her band; tonight, she was accompanied only by her guitar, but this solo performance was intimate yet captivating, offering a taste of her vibrant personality and positive energy. She mentioned that she’s been working on an EP, and she confirmed that the track she performed next, Do You Still Lie (Probably), will feature on it.  

She followed with Talk, another track from the upcoming EP, which was released during the summer. Her band – who were in the audience – may have been absent from the stage, but their presence was felt, especially during the next track, Running Out of Time, where Dorothy told the anecdote, "I usually run around a lot while playing this one, but I can’t today while playing an instrument,” complimenting her bassist’s ability to do just that. 

A special guest was introduced next: Gordon Parma, who joined her for a performance of Thunder, a song they co-wrote and which is now available on streaming platforms. The crowd, while initially slow to respond to her playful “Who’s up for a sing-song?” quickly warmed to her candid and engaging stage presence.

Leah Wilcox followed, starting with the track I Don’t Like to Lie, before diving into the delicate love song Origami Flowers. Leah introduced her band, Louisa, Joe, and Toby, explaining how they’d written some songs together while on holiday. This led into one of these tracks, Feet Fall Forwards, a standout moment in the set that offered a refreshing, uplifting perspective on life’s unpredictable direction: “Every time you forget where you’re going in life, you’re probably going in the right direction,” Leah said. 

The audience was then treated to The Wine Song (a track about Leah’s first encounter with – and love of – wine, where Dorothy Ella joined her on stage) and Photograph (a track about not being able to get someone off your mind) before the standout moment of her set: Backwards. Leah entered the crowd mid-song, joining Louisa for a moving and deeply emotive performance, which showcased the grittier side of her voice.

The set continued with Blue, a track that was released just weeks earlier, followed by an un-named final song that Leah coined Holy Enough while on stage.

Finally, it was time for the headline act: Josie Beth. The night marked a monumental occasion – her first ever headline show and her first time playing with a full band. 

Josie opened with Ease My Mind, and the audience was soon swept into a whirlwind of feelings, with Josie pouring her heart into songs like How’d You Tell Your Mother? and Wish I Could Too, the latter of which featured stunning, emotive standalone vocals at the end. Throughout the set, Josie was joined on stage by Leah and Dorothy as backing singers, a collaboration that felt both natural and exciting.

Another highlight of the set was I Don’t Go Out Anymore, a track Josie co-wrote with Joel Baker, which she performed solo on stage, replacing her brother who was playing the keyboard. The emotions were palpable, setting the stage for the rest of the set, which brought more energy and lightness from this point forward. 

Next came It’s Me! - a song released earlier this summer - which is a celebratory anthem, contrasting the more sombre moments which came earlier in the evening. The song was a favourite among the crowd, thanks to its upbeat vibe, and its inclusion on Radio 1 at the time of its release is no surprise. 

Then Josie played Tanglewood, a song about buying a new guitar and feeling guilty on behalf of her old one. The next track My Ghost had a stunning keyboard intro, before she performed Backseat of Your Car, a track with an infectious drum-driven rhythm and reverberating vocals, which is set to be Josie’s next release, as part of an imminent EP (Alone In A Crowded Room). 

The Ocean was supposed to be the final track of the set, but Josie opted to close out the show with an additional solo piece, as the rest of the band left the stage to let her have her moment. 

With a setlist that seamlessly combined raw emotion and moments of pure joy, Josie Beth's debut headline show at Rough Trade Nottingham was an electrifying introduction to an artist whose career is only just beginning. The chemistry between Josie, Dorothy Ella, and Leah Wilcox made for an incredible evening that will likely be remembered for a long time by those fortunate enough to witness it.

Josie Beth performed at Rough Trade on 15th November 2024.

@josiebethmusic