Matt Felix – Support

Opening the night was Matt Felix, a London based singer-songwriter whose style, in my opinion, nods to Richard Ashcroft (The Verve) combined with hints of Tom Waits’ rough-edged soul.

Despite those often brooding influences, Felix looked like he was genuinely having fun up on stage, alongside his 3 band members. His set, about 25 minutes long, was tight and confident, marked by strong vocals, and backed by equally talented musicians who knew exactly when to lean in to build up the sound and when to pull back.

Despite the cramped stage (a postage stamp with wires snaking everywhere like a spaghetti junction!), Felix, with his stage assemblage, delivered a real punch, culminating in an impromptu addition of Felix’s mate, Adam “from just round the corner”, adding an extra guitar for the closing number, “Don’t Cry”.  It was the kind of unplanned moment that makes small-venue gigs so much fun. The band as a whole clearly were tight and loving the gig, their own moshing only curbed by the tiny platform they were performing on. By the end, Felix had more than proved himself as a name worth following and watching in the future.

And then came Picture Parlour, the Headliners.

The room filled with buzz as Picture Parlour took the stage for the 4th night of their first headline tour. Friends and family nestled in with the crowd, which proved to be a whole mix of ‘average Joe’s’ and super cool, sassy stylistas.

On stage, joining the incredible pairing of Katherine Parlour (vocal/guitar) and Ella Risi (lead guitar), were Kitty Fitz (guitar/bass), Michael Nash (drums/and an excellent ‘tash), and Joey Django (bass/rhythm guitar).

Each a talented musician in their own right, with the added powerhouse vocals of Parlour, the tiny Cluny 2 stage was more like a jewellery box jammed with gear, barely containing them; at one point, Katherine wrestling with her signature red-scarfed mic stand as it slipped, but holding her ground with ease, a skill in itself among the gear chaos.

Saying that, if space was tight, the energy was overflowing.

Kicking off with “Cielo Drive”, the band literally exploded into action. Even in a venue this small, their sound felt impressively big, and true to recordings without fault.

From there came “Who’s There To Love Without You”, Katherine, in her trademark shades, called out apologising to the audience as she had lost her voice the night before and her vocals might not be quite up to scratch. But honestly, you’d barely have known; it only added an additional touch of grit and character, lending an accent of Patti Smith or Joan Jett.

The set raced forward through a blur of tracks, guitar swaps, and sharp bursts of energy. A deep drum intro gave way to “Neptune 66”, a blinder of a track from their forthcoming debut album ‘The Parlour’ (out 14 November 2025). Other standouts included the raw guitar-led “Judgement Day”, the indie-leaning “I Used To Be Your Girlfriend”, and the magnetic “Talk About It”, the track which got me hooked on the band when I heard it on BBC Radio 6 months back.

Closing with “Norwegian Wood”, now a singalong classic for fans, the crowd slowly dissipated off into the autumn night, mixing melodies, laughter and praise.

Final Impressions

I caught Picture Parlour for the first time at Kendal Calling earlier this year and was delighted when they announced they were touring. The band held the room in their hands throughout their set, their energy and connection as maestros of their trade is undeniable. For me, less strobe lighting so we, the audience, could see the band actually play, would be the icing on the cake, but hearing the audience’s comments on their way out (“that was very cool”) said it all.

Both acts proved the kind of gigs that remind you why small venues matter; unpredictable, raw, and full of life. With ‘The Parlour’ around the corner, Picture Parlour are clearly ones to catch now and watch as they graduate to stages far bigger than Cluny 2.

For £15 on the door, catching both acts felt like a steal.

29th September 2025