Photo + Words: Kate Warby

Bloodworm entered the stage in a way that almost reflected the atmosphere of the night overall. Before they had even stepped into view the audience could already see the silhouettes of the band just off stage carrying out their pre-show rituals, creating a sense of anticipation amongst the packed pub venue before a single note had even been played.

As they entered to a smoother paced opening song they allowed the crowd to settle into the set naturally, warming the audience up before quickly accelerating the atmosphere with their following song ‘Depths‘. The room immediately became more alive, with audience members moving on their feet and sinking into the heavy sound that the Nottingham based trio had created.

Frontman, George Curtis, held the rooms attention throughout however did so in an unconventional way. With very little audience interaction during the beginning of the set the band instead allowed the music to speak for itself. Their streamlined live vocals and heavy instrumentals demanded the audiences focus entirely onto the music rather than relying on over the top showmanship. It became clear early on that Bloodworm are a band that want their art to be at the forefront of their performances.

This idea also reflected itself in the dynamic between the three members on stage. The instrumentalists spent much of the opening songs hidden slightly behind the lead singer, supporting him in a complimentary way and allowing him to command the audiences attention alone. However as the evening continued each member slowly began letting loose more on stage. By around the fourth song the shift in confidence and movement amongst the band became obvious and through this they subconsciously encouraged the crowd to do the same. Suddenly the room felt more connected, with the audience now matching the energy that was unfolding in front of them.

Despite being within a smaller pub venue the band still managed to create an immersive atmosphere through creative lighting choices, with colours reflecting the darker tone of the music throughout the evening. This paired with the overwhelming noise of the crowd only amplified the intensity of the performance further. Before launching into ‘Cemetery Dance‘ the band joked “Have we deafened you yet?”, a question quickly answered by the audiences cheers growing somehow even louder than before.

As the night continued Bloodworm appeared determined to make the most of every second on stage whilst also seeming eager to continue onto the next stop of their tour. Closing the evening with ‘Clairvoyance‘, the set ended with the same intensity that had built steadily throughout the night. Beneath the heavy sound and commanding performance however remains a group that still feel incredibly grounded; a small band visibly overwhelmed by the number of people they have managed to influence, entertain and inspire through something that once simply began as an outlet and hobby.

Photo Credit: Kate Warby