Introduction
Having never visited The Bodega in Nottingham before, I was thrilled to catch Cam Cole on his headline tour. We previously interviewed Cam one of our favourite chats to date so my expectations were high. This run was aptly named the Come Together Tour, featuring a clever promo where tickets became cheaper the more friends you brought along. It worked flawlessly, resulting in a packed-out midweek crowd.
I brought along Cozzer, my long-suffering editor, who is also a massive fan of Cam’s signature new-age blues rock.
Stepping off the tram, I realised the venue was just a short walk from where I had watched Lo Rays the previous evening. Climbing the steep stairs into the performance room, I was pleased to find a tight, intimate space—a guarantee for great acoustics. After checking out the merch stand and grabbing a drink, it was time for the openers.
The Dead Reds
I intentionally avoided listening to The Dead Reds beforehand because I wanted a pure surprise. Boy, did they deliver.
What I witnessed was a powerful five-piece collective armed with a diverse arsenal of instruments. This blues/psych band has been crafting songs together since 2011. With three albums under their belt, they are a band operating well and truly in their stride.
Vocalist Beth Lees possesses a tone perfectly tailored for this genre—seriously, her vocals are exceptional. What truly sets the band apart is her flute playing, which adds an intriguing layer to their sound. The harmonica playing Thomas Miles Woodbridge injects a similar magic.
Together, they create an earthy blues tone that shines on tracks like Brothers and Sisters and Empire.
Rounded out by Max Gibson (guitar), Joss Love (drums), and Ollie Holland (bass), their sound blew me away so much that I reached out to them immediately after the gig. Keep your eyes peeled for that upcoming feature! In the meantime, check out their brilliant latest single, Mother’s Daughter.
Cam Cole
We pushed our way into a central position. Truth be told, it was a little cramped, but a packed house on a midweek night is always fantastic news for live music. At this point, I popped in my Loop earplugs, which excellently filtered out a few rowdy crowd members who later took to shouting during songs.
Cam was slightly late taking the stage due to sound issues and an ill sound engineer. However, the moment he stepped out in his carnival-esque outfit, the crowd erupted.
If you have never seen Cam Cole live, it is a true experience. He brings his entire heavy-duty setup with him, including a massive spinning wheel. Throughout the set, his sidekick Owl dashes around the stage, adding eccentric flair to both the sound and the visual spectacle. It is peak entertainment.
The setlist masterfully balanced older new-age blues hits with fresh material like Rabbit (She’s What I Want) and Ur So Beautiful. His fuzz-heavy blues rock is incredible; it carries a thick, infectious groove that makes it impossible to stand still. The energetic crowd was living proof. If you love psychedelic rock, you will easily fall for his music, as lashings of psych are woven through every track.
The sheer volume of guitars used throughout the set was unbelievable. I even recognised a few from his USA documentary, each bringing a subtle, distinct texture to the performance.
If you are new to Cam’s music, his gritty vocals will blow you away—but that only tells half of this crazy story.
He sings, he shreds guitar, and he plays a full drum kit entirely with his feet. Simultaneously.
That level of technical coordination takes years to master, and “Mama,” does it sound sublime.
As the final chords rang out, I was left completely floored. Having only seen him perform a brief three-song set in the past, catching a full headline show was magnificent.
After the gig, his adoring fans swarmed the merch booth. Having interviewed him before, I already knew Cam was a genuinely great guy, and grabbing a signed poster only reconfirmed it.
It was an incredible night of live music—and one I fully intend on repeating. Cozzer agrees.
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