Photo Credit: Caitlin Mellors
Words: Sophie Eley
Celebrating the release of her latest album ‘Dog Eared‘, Billie Marten takes to the stage at Rough Trade in Nottingham for an intimate acoustic set, debuting her new songs live for one of the first times.
As anticipation builds, the room slowly fills with fans clutching fresh copies of ‘Dog Eared‘. This was one of a handful of stripped-back shows to mark the album’s release, and the setting couldn’t have been more fitting. No stage lights or big introductions. Just Billie, her guitar, and a room full of people ready to listen. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, setting the tone for a night where vulnerability and subtlety take centre stage.
Seated on a wooden stool, Billie quietly tunes her guitar before beginning ‘Feeling‘, the first track off the album. It is an unassuming start but the effect on the crowd is immediate. Complete silence bounces through the room as those watching become completely entranced by the singer-songwriter’s presence. Her voice is clear and gentle and this vibe remains throughout the set.
The setting is casual and understated, perfectly matching Marten’s calm presence. She shifts between new material and older favourites, including ‘This Is How We Move‘ and ‘I Can’t Get My Head Around You’ off her 2023 album, ‘Drop Cherries’. ‘Clover’ is a standout, though a guitar malfunction follows with an unexpected twist. Billie jokes that if you “listen really hard, it sounds like the ocean” bringing a ripple of laughter through the crowd. It’s a moment of comic relief that doesn’t break the spell, if anything it adds to the closeness before she eases into ‘Leap Year’, ‘The Glass’ and ‘Planets‘, more tracks from the new album.
Later, she plays a fan request, ‘No Sudden Changes‘, a track she admits hasn’t been touched since she wrote it over a year ago. From the crowd’s reaction, it is clear this track lands with the weight and appreciation it deserves. Among the many requests shouted out from across her discography, this one felt like the most fitting choice for the evening.
The set closes with ‘Swing‘, where Marten encourages a soft “oo oo oo” singalong from the audience. The evening ends as intimate as it began, with no big finale or encore, just a final few songs shared with the crowd.
After the final song, Billie invites fans to stick around for a signing, providing the opportunity for fans to meet her and get their records signed – a fitting end to an already cherished evening.
Taped Magazine 