Words: Theo Thompson
The anticipation was palpable at Islington Assembly Hall as Divorce, the Nottingham-born quartet, took to the stage for their biggest headline show to date. The energy in the room was electric. From the moment band members: Tiger Cohen-Towell (vocals/bass), Felix Mackenzie-Barrow (vocals/guitar), Adam Peter Smith (guitar/synth) and Kasper Sandstrøm (drums) ran on stage, the crowd erupted into playful cheers. A mood that would carry the night.
The band’s signature blend of indie-rock, country and folk filled the hall, with each song crafting an atmosphere both intimate and expansive. A striking red theme ran through the band’s outfits, with Adam sporting a stylish open cropped shirt, shed midway through the set. Kasper, broke from a usual drummers backline placement, positioned stage right alongside the other band members, bringing all four to the front. His proximity to the crowd gave the performance a more immersive feel, making him an integral part of the dynamic, rather than the distant rhythmic backbone. Felix’s guitar, with its distinctive F-hole, added depth to the band’s sound as he shredded through tracks, showcasing a versatility reminiscent of Marcus Mumford with a tinge of Hozier.
The night was full of surprises. Divorce treated the packed crowd to new tracks from their forthcoming album Drive to Goldenhammer, which drops in March. Their excitement was infectious, as Felix repeatedly expressed how overwhelmed they all were by the support. The crowd’s response was immediate and enthusiastic. Tracks like ‘Heaven is a Long Way’ commanded silence from the audience, a striking contrast to the otherwise raucous night. Tiger’s vocals, sweet yet passionate, had a mesmerising effect.
Tiger’s stage presence was magnetic. At one point, joking with the crowd, “You’re nice… in the spirit of being nice, we’re going to play a quiet one,” before passing into a heartfelt song about siblings. As the set drew to a close, Divorce delivered one of their final tracks, ‘Checking Out,’ with Felix’s vocals soaring above a driving drumbeat. The encore was inevitable, as the crowd stomped their feet in unison, unwilling to let the night end.
It was a fitting finale to a night of passion, playfulness and pure musical talent. Divorce left their mark on Islington, and with Drive to Goldenhammer on the horizon, they are a band on the brink of something extraordinary.
Listen to new single ‘All My Freaks’ on streaming services here and pre-order the album here.