Witch Fever – Colours, Hoxton – A Live Review
The name ‘Witch Fever’ pays homage to our fallen sisters, the thousands of innocent women killed at the hands of men due to the suspicion of them being witches, a genocide carried out over the centuries known as the ‘Witch Fever’. When I saw their name many moons ago I knew they were for me, I knew the music would connect and it did.
Colours, Hoxton was swarming with Northerners as soon as I arrived, in the smoking area, on the line up, the industry people and the crowd. I heard the beautifully harsh mother tongue of my home land and knew we were in for some magic. London, I love you… but nobody does crowds like the Northerners.
We unfortunately missed ‘SLAP RASH’, who I was really looking forward to seeing support and would strongly suggest lending your ear to! We were lucky enough to catch the formidable ‘CLT DRP’ and the enchanting ‘HERIOT’ though! Two bands who I would see again in a heartbeat. I loved ‘Heriot’s’ dual dynamic of both male and female vocalists.
Witch Fever’s set started with a bit of chatter, as you do but then they got straight down to business. It was incredible. They are a vicious force to be reckoned with, made up of vocalist Amy Walpole, Guitarist Alisha Yarwood, Drummer Annabelle Joyce and Bassist Alex Thompson. The band don’t shy away from the tough topics, instead they scream about them directly in your face, angrily and quite literally. As they should.
I’ve wanted to see ‘Witch Fever’ live for such a long time, I’m a huge fan of their music especially their latest EP featuring the songs ‘Reincarnate’, ‘In Birth’ and ‘In the Resurrect’. Listen to the EP here.
I wondered if their sound would transcend live, let me tell you… this band are brilliant on record but in person they’re all consuming, the crowd were merely puppets on their string.
Amy’s eyes chew up the souls of the crowd members she connects with whilst her mouth spits them right back out with her words. This person is rare, few people can hold a crowd in the palm of their hands and bend them to their will the entire set.
Jumping from the stage, to the standing crowd and finally to the bar to spread the bands message, Amy took no prisoners. Her vocals range from light and melodic to demonic, whilst the rest of the band hold her with their beautifully chaotic riffs and perfect tempos.
I love how the band express who they are and will quiteliterally batter anyone who tries to inappropriately address them or sexualise them. As women we have been told to ‘laugh things off’ or be ‘grateful for attention’. Not today, Satan. We won’t be quiet and ‘Witch Fever’ are a band who give a voice and an outlet to those of us who haven’t been able to say no, for those of us who didn’t have a choice. Also those who do, it’s fine to tell an inappropriate man to f*** off and I think that’s a decent message!
“Just because I’m wearing a bra and knickers doesn’t mean you can f***ing touch me” said Amy, very politely. Don’t give her a reason to say it twice though. Won’t end well, for you.
I wasn’t ready for the gig to end, it was a credit to them to see so many other accomplished musicians cheering them on from the crowd as well as fans. They are a band to watch for sure.
Here at ‘The Songbird’ we already have our second dose of’Witch Fever’ brilliance booked for 2022, on April 13th at Manchester’s Night & Day Café, if you fancy joining us you can catch them live on the following dates throughout the Summer…
13TH APRIL 2022 NIGHT & DAY CAFÉ MANCHESTER, UK
16TH APRIL 2022 FUTURAMA FESTIVAL LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
1ST MAY 2022 BAD POND FESTIVAL BRIGHTON, UK
11TH MAY 2022 – 14TH MAY 2022 GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL BRIGHTON, UK
23RD MAY 2022 GREEN DOOR STORE W/ SURFBORT BRIGHTON, UK
24TH MAY 2022 STRANGE BREW W/ SURFBORT BRISTOL, UK
25TH MAY 2022 SOUP KITCHEN W/ SURFBORT MANCHESTER, UK
26TH MAY 2022 KING TUTS W/ SURFBORT GLASGOW, UK
29TH MAY 2022 ELSEWHERE W/ SURFBORT MARGATE, UK
24TH JUN 2022 – 26TH JUN 2022 OUTBREAK FESTIVAL
BOWLERS EXHIBITION CENTRE, MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM
Review/photos/videos (unless otherwise stated) by Katie Muszanskyj
The songbird 