17 October 2025 rocknews

Ally Venable Gig Review: Lone Star Firepower Ignites Nottingham’s The Bodega

The air in Nottingham was thick with anticipation on Thursday, October 16, 2025, as the rising star of blues rock, Ally Venable, brought her explosive brand of Texas grit to the intimate stage of The Bodega. This famed small venue, a proving ground for future giants of the music industry, hosted a night where traditional blues foundation met hard-driving rock energy. For a crowd packed tight eagerly waiting for a masterclass in fretwork and soul-drenched vocals, anyone searching for an Ally Venable Gig Review will find that she was ready to deliver a performance that solidified her standing as one of the most exciting guitarists of her generation.

Background on Ally Venable

A commanding force in blues rock, Ally Venable has spent the last decade carving out her own powerful space within a genre often dominated by men. Hailing from Kilgore, Texas, her musical journey began early, inspired by local heroes like Stevie Ray Vaughan. She released her debut EP at just 14, and her career has been marked by rapid success ever since. Her studio albums, including Texas Honey (2019) and the number one charting Real Gone (2023), have consistently topped the Billboard Blues Charts. Her newest album, Money & Power (2025), is an uncompromising statement on female empowerment in roots music.

Venable’s fiery guitar work and compelling vocals have earned her a spot alongside titans. She has toured with Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Her discography features major collaborations, including duets with Buddy Guy (“Texas Louisiana”) and powerhouse guests Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram and Shemekia Copeland on her latest album. Ally Venable is firmly recognised as one of the genre’s most vital young artists, bringing the raw energy of her celebrated back catalogue and new tracks to audiences across her current UK tour.

Explosive start

Venable did not ease into the evening; she exploded. The show began with the ominous, dark drone of the “Penitentiary philosophy intro,” a cinematic soundscape that built tension until it snapped. Ally Venable then stepped forward, hitting a massive guitar intro that served as a raw, six-string hello to Nottingham. This wasn’t a casual entrance; it was an arrival. They launched immediately into the ferocious, driving riff of “Brown Liquor,” a clear, aggressive statement of intent from the Money & Power album. The sheer force of the three-piece immediately ignited the crowd, who rocked their heads and moved to the blistering beat. Drummer Isaac Pulido and bassist EJ Bedford locked into a rhythm track that was both surgically precise and deeply raw. Venable, in her glittering stage attire, looked every inch the rock star, tearing into a solo that was pure Texas blues fire.

Between songs, Venable engaged the audience with her warm Texas southern charm, inciting the room to cheer and respond to her calls. Her charisma on stage is infectious and grabs the crowd every time. She followed this with the empowering anthem “Unbreakable.” This song, with its heavy, determined groove, showed the band’s mastery of dynamics. Ally dedicated the track to the strength of women in a powerful moment of crowd connection. Her guitar screamed the melody, affirming her status as a commanding force in the modern blues landscape. The intensity ratcheted up further with the juggernaut groove of “Steamroller,” a track that showcased the band’s ability to simply flatten the room with sonic weight. The band’s chemistry was electric and the early set confirmed they were here to deliver raw, unfiltered rock and roll.

The Setlist: Core of the Ally Venable Gig Review

The core of this Ally Venable Gig is the setlist, a powerful blend of new material and essential classics, confirming her status as both a powerful rocker and a deeply soulful blues artist.

Penitentiary philosophy intro
Brown Liquor
Unbreakable
Steamroller
Texas Louisiana (Buddy Guy collaboration track)
Broken and blue
Stopper back papa
Fire ( Jimi Hendrix Cover)
Feel that sting
Next Time I See You
Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan (Instrumental)
Ain’t That A Bitch (Kenny Wayne Shepherd cover)

Encore:

Real Gone

Inspiration, influences and crowd participation

The middle of the set saw Venable shift into the swinging, infectious rhythm of “Texas Louisiana.” Venable introduced this track by acknowledging its origins as a collaboration with the legendary Buddy Guy, effortlessly handling both her part and Guy’s signature licks on her own. This seamless execution demonstrated her deep respect for tradition and her innate ability to channel the blues masters. The band then delivered the heavy emotional weight of “Broken and blue,”before diving into the funky, grinding riff of “Stopper back papa.”

Beyond the fretwork, the narrative heart of the show lay in the second half. Venable’s genuine connection with the audience and her knack for storytelling led the frequent, meaningful crowd interaction. Venable paused to reflect on the nature of being a professional musician. She told the audience it feels “surreal to perform” and how she writes songs in her bedroom hoping they will inspire others. She shared a deeply personal connection, explaining that Stevie Ray Vaughan got her into the blues and stated simply that if she can inspire just one person into the blues, she’s done her job, this vulnerability only amplified the power of the heavy music that followed.

Following the emotional anecdote, the spectacle returned when the band launched into the Jimi Hendrix cover “Fire.”Bassist EJ Bedford seized the spotlight, swapping his standard instrument for a striking white fur-wrapped bass, a moment of pure rock theatre. This high-octane cover, a highlight for this Ally Venable Gig Review, immediately preceded the brooding track “Feel that sting,” where Venable utilised her guitar for a soaring solo that pushed the limits of the small room’s sound system. This was followed by the night’s most passionate peak: an instrumental tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Here, Ally’s playing was pure passion, a powerful acknowledgement of her roots. She acknowledged another mentor, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, with a flawless, extended cover of “Ain’t That A Bitch.” This allowed the rhythm section to take centre stage. EJ Bedford delivered a jaw-dropping bass solo, manipulating the low end with precision and flair. This was followed by an explosive Issak drum solo, a rhythmic whirlwind that confirmed the technical brilliance of the entire line-up. The final encore was the powerful, driving title track “Real Gone,” a fierce, defiant rock anthem that brought the house down and left the audience reeling from the sonic impact.

The Ally Venable Gig Review: The Rock News Verdict

Tonight has been a scorching night of guitar riffs and shredding. Ally’s playing was more than brilliance; it was heart-filled passion. Her performance at The Bodega was an unequivocal victory, serving as a powerful reminder that blues rock is a vibrant, evolving power in the hands of the right generation. As established throughout this Ally Venable Gig Review, Venable possesses the rare ability to honour the foundational figures like Vaughan and Guy. She successfully ensures the genre gains a fresh, youthful vitality and a hard-rocking edge for a new audience.

Her skill as a guitarist is immense. She demonstrates the soul-piercing slow bends expected of a traditional blues player, and she also displays the dizzying, high-speed aggression of a seasoned rock shredder, often executing both styles within the same solo. This versatility confirms her mastery of diverse techniques. Yet, it is her command as a songwriter and a bandleader that truly elevates the show.

For the fans lucky enough to pack into The Bodega in Nottingham, the evening was a reminder that live, unvarnished rock and roll is alive and thriving. Ally Venable is not just a rising star; she has arrived, and she has brought a new level of firepower to the blues. Her work is a continuation of the Texas tradition, not merely a tribute to it.

Rock News Verdict: Ally Venable Gig Review: A blistering, essential blues-rock masterclass. Venable is the real deal, a six-string sorceress forging a magnificent legacy note by fiery note. Ten out of Ten.

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