Live Music Review: The Big Moon At Nottingham Contemporary

Words: Addie Kenogbon
Monday 06 April 2020
reading time: min, words

It’s amazing how much can change in the space of a month, isn’t it? Back in early March our Addie enjoyed a night of live music from The Big Moon at Nottingham Contemporary, following their previous intimate show at Rough Trade last January...

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Unless you’ve been living on another planet for the last few years, you’ll no doubt be familiar with cosmic queens, The Big Moon, and their super-infectious brand of indie rock.

Boasting an impressive career to date, including being shortlisted for a Mercury Prize in 2017 for their debut album, Love In The 4th Dimension, winning Best Video of the Year at the 2018 NME Awards and being shortlisted for Best Band in the World and Best British Band at this year’s NME awards, it’s safe to say this London four-piece is currently taking the world by storm.

This year marked the release of their hotly-anticipated second album, Walking Like We Do, and the launch of their first headline tour since 2017. With Nottingham the first of the tour dates to sell-out, the city welcomed the foursome: Juliette Jackson; Soph Nathan; Celia Archer and Fern Ford, back in true style with a packed show at Nottingham Contemporary.

Cool female energy was the theme of the night with fellow all-girl indie band Prima Queen on support, their ethereal tones a welcome intro for the night’s proceedings. But it was The Big Moon the crowds came to see and from their opening song, Sucker’s first heady note, it was clear fans were in for a buzzing night.

A set that featured favourites from their debut album such as smash hit, Formidable, power anthems Cupid and Bonfire as well as lots of fantastic tunes from their latest album including super-fun Take a Piece and the sunny tones of Your Light, the girls cast their spell on onlookers.

Further highlights from the evening came in the form of a stunning flute duet from Juliette and Celia for Barcelona, a high-octane rendition of Fat Boy Slim’s Praise You and bags of enchanting harmonies.

Oracles of stunning lyrics that are as at home chanted amongst friends as listened to in moments of quiet reflection, the girls find a way to intertwine themes of love, heartbreak and friendship with grungy guitar effects and floaty celestial notes. The band are tight - both in music and in friendship - as they bounce off each other’s energy while effortlessly taking fans on a journey of moreish music, laughter and all-round fun.

The Big Moon played at Nottingham Contemporary on Monday 2 March 2020. Nottingham Contemporary is temporarily closed, but you can visit its exhibitions virtually online.

Nottingham Contemporary website.

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