Samantha Fish live at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London 2022

Tonight, I’m in one of the most gorgeous venues in London, the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire with a tether vibe.

To warm up the crowd we have the British band, Wille and the Bandits, a band who play a variety of different genre-spanning across blues, rock, Latin and folk styles. Forming in 2010, Wille and the Bandits are a band from Cornwall, taking their inspiration from a variety of artists such as Perl Jam, Ben Harper and Jimi Hendrix but they are their own blend of hard rock and blues that is overwhelmingly fresh.

The band just released their 2020 studio record “When the World Stood Still” and brought their absolute best to each song. Their music is a breath of fresh air challenging the listener while embracing technology and instrumental possibilities resulting in a musical diversity which makes their music so appealing.

It is wonderful to see them having a blast on stage, creating such a great atmosphere for everyone! Lead singer, Wille Edwards, is great at keeping the crowd entertained while wringing some incredible sounds from his guitar and the crowd is loving their set. Sing-along and foot stomping are some of the ingredients that make you in a good mood while enjoining them as they are great fun and captivating to watch.

Such a superb support and don’t forget to keep an eye out for their headliner tour early next year!

9.00 pm on the dot and Samantha Fish takes the stage by storm. Over the course of her career as an award-winning artist, singer, songwriter & guitarist Samantha Fish has brought extraordinary power to her self-expression, capturing her inner world in combustible riffs, visceral rhythms, and spine-tingling vocal work.

Contrary to any other show I’ve been to, during the first two songs of her set, I’m closed in a little room on the side of the stage with a few other photographers, as they divided us into two groups. But when the third song starts, I almost run to the pit to make sure to be able to snap some photos of her. Dressed in silk trousers and white leather jackets, Samantha Fish is the stereotypical vision of a rock and roll queen. The show gets off with a bang with “Bulletproof”, “Better Be Lonely” and “Twisted Ambition” with barely any breaks in between giving us the experience to remember and does not fail to impress us by keeping that high going through the whole set. Fish’s vocal range is incredible and everyone in the crowd is astonished by it.

Her songs showcase the gritty vitality of her musicianship with elegant electric sounds alongside more delicate ones with shimmering keyboard tones forming dreamy backdrops. Fish elongates her compositions with first-rate solo work that’s both beguiling and unsparing, pulling no punches with each sweep or slide. She’s a phenomenal guitarist, conducting the people with every pick. This results in a singular body of work emotionally raw.

One thing is clear, Fish’s greatest joy is to make music and the powerful exchange of energy that she gives in a live show is not to be missed.

Wille and The Bandits Setlist: