Review – Ashnikko w/ Hemlocke Springs, Marble Factory, Bristol, December 9th

Surprisingly, this is Ashnikko’s first headline show in Bristol. Arriving the week after their huge 10,000 capacity Alexandra Palace show, the sold-out Marble Factory gig is a more intimate affair for the singer/rapper.

Despite the early start, larger than usual queues stretched down the street before the 6pm door opening time as excited fans waited to get as close to the front of the stage as possible. Resultingly, support act Hemlocke Springs was able to perform her quirky brand of bedroom pop to an almost full room. Seemingly taking sartorial inspiration from 80s icons Cyndi Lauper, Prince and Madonna, she played everything from her debut EP and finished with “Girlfriend” which a lot of the crowd appeared already familiar with presumably due to its TikTok virality.

On that note, Ashnikko addresses “those here for my little TikTok songs” aware that the positive reaction to tracks like “Slumber Party” and “Manners” has been propelled by the widespread use of them on the app.

Those familiar with Ashnikko’s work, including her debut LP “Weedkiller” which was released to widespread critical acclaim this Summer, would be unsurprised by the genre-defying nature of tonight’s show. They flip effortlessly from ostensibly light-weight pop (“Working Bitch”) to darker tracks laced with hip-hop (“Tantrum”) or a heavier rock streak (“Cry”).

There are moments of sentimentality in the party; before album closer and highlight “Dying Star”, she reminds the crowd that “love should always be kind” and has an assistant place a packet of Percy Pigs in front of her to help get her through the show. She lets us know that she’s close to vomiting and then immediately bursts into the sort of intensive choreography that has punctuated the entire show.

It’s a defiant, arena-ready performance from an artist who refuses to be constrained by the idea of genre.

Written by Ryan Simmonds

Photos by Craig J Simmonds Media