Live Review: Arlo Parks - Bodega, Nottingham 05/03/2020

Gigs don’t get much more intimate than at The Bodega in Nottingham and it’s great to see your favourites before they hit the big time and start playing arenas, like 19 year old Arlo Parks is set to do. As she was due to play the sold out Nottingham show, she announced on social media that she would be supporting Paramore’s Hayley Williams on the North American leg of her tour. Sam Fender is also a fan of her song ‘Super Sad Generation’ and she’s clearly destined for big things.

The show started with an instrumental intro before Arlo sang ‘Paperbacks’ flawlessly in her confessional style. ‘Paperbacks’ is a dreamy number and set the mood for the evening. The crowd were calm and chilled out, until the songs ended and they erupted in applause. Next was ‘Cola’, a coming-of-age track. Londoner Arlo Parks sings about heartbreak in a way that is very mature, with her smooth, shadowy vocals.

Arlo also played a couple of unreleased tracks such as ‘Punk Rock Eyes’ and ‘Black Dog’. She also performed a poem, which isn’t something that happens at every gig you go to. She also performed an acoustic version of ‘Angel’s Song’. With her eyes closed while she sang, it showed that music is really a part of Arlo’s identity and a way for her to express herself. 

Words by Narzra Ahmed

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