Gig Review: Sensational Fozzy Nottingham Live Review

16 February 2026 rocknews

Fantastic Fozzy Nottingham Live Review: 25th Anniversary Sledgehammer Hits Rock City

Fozzy Nottingham Live Review: There is no venue in the UK quite like Nottingham’s Rock City. Its walls are steeped in rock history, and tonight, they were practically sweating as Fozzy rolled into town on their monumental 25th Anniversary Tour. Bringing a high-octane bill featuring Marisa and the Moths and Tailgunner, this Fozzy Nottingham Live Review captures a night of pure rock ‘n’ roll redemption.

The Openers: Grit, Grace, and Galloping Guitars

Opening the night were Marisa and the Moths, a band that has been turning heads across the circuit. Marisa Rodriguez is a force of nature; her powerhouse vocals transitioned effortlessly from soul-searching grit to soaring arena-ready hooks. Their brand of modern rock proved they belong on the biggest stages.

Following them were Tailgunner, who turned the clock back to 1982 in the best possible way.

Clad in leather and studs, they delivered a set of pure heavy metal that saw the Rock City floor erupt into a sea of crowd surfers. If you’re looking for a comparison, Tailgunner are to Iron Maiden what Greta Van Fleet are to Led Zeppelin—they don’t just influence the sound; they embody the very soul of the era. The relentless pace of “Midnight Blitz” and the anthemic “Guns for Hire” provided the perfect spark for this Fozzy Nottingham Live Review.

Fozzy Nottingham Live Review: The Main Event – Masters of Stagecraft

It’s easy to forget that the band’s name itself is a nod to their origin story; they originally started as Fozzy Osbourne, a tribute act to the Prince of Darkness himself. Watching them today, it’s clear they’ve transcended those parody roots to become a legitimate force in the genre.

As the lights dimmed, the roar from the Nottingham faithful was deafening. Fozzy exploded onto the stage with “Fall In Line,” a sonic sledgehammer that immediately set the tone. The band gives 100% from the first chord to the final bow, proving themselves to be absolute masters of their stagecraft. This level of dedication is infectious; the energy they pour into the performance is so intense that the audience can do nothing but give 100% back.

Between songs, the crowd was so worked up that thunderous chants of “Fozzy, Fozzy!” echoed through the rafters at maximum volume. The band clearly fed from this raw energy, somehow getting better and better with each subsequent song.

Chris Jericho remains the ultimate showman, and he wasn’t shy about stoking the local fires. Welcoming the screaming crowd to “Fozzy Friday!”, the lead singer proclaimed that Nottingham was the biggest show on the tour, officially outstripping Manchester for the previous crown. He took a moment to reminisce about the first time Fozzy played Nottingham on the smaller Beta stage, joking that they initially thought they were in the wrong venue until they saw the Fozzy sign above the stage. Tonight, however, they felt right at home on the “big boy stage.”

During the old-school anthem “Enemy,” the crowd was encouraged to join in with everything they had—Jericho jokingly told them that if they didn’t know the words, they should just “fake it!” The track also featured an incredible display of musicianship as the two guitarists, Rich Ward and Billy Grey, engaged in a blistering duel, trading solos back and forth to the delight of the Rock City crowd.

Fozzy Nottingham Live Review: The Finale

Fozzy Nottingham Live Review: As the set drew to a close, the crowd knew the biggest moment was still to come. Returning for the encore, the first few notes of “Judas” sparked a reaction that shook Rock City to its foundations. Hearing the venue scream every word back at the stage—singing until their lungs hurt—was a genuine “hairs on the back of your neck” moment.

They closed the night by bringing things full circle with a blistering cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.” Tonight had everything a gig needs: energy, passion, world-class musicianship, and a crowd that was every bit as important as the band. It may only be February, but tonight’s show is already a massive contender for ‘Gig of the Year.’ Thank god it’s Saturday today or there would be some very sore throats calling in sick across the Midlands!

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