Cam Cole Gig Review

19 March 2026 rocknews

Cam Cole Turns Norwich Into a Blues-Fuelled Circus at Adrian Flux Waterfront, Norwich

What. A. Night!

While others around the country were out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, I, along with 200 other lucky punters, were in an upstairs room in Norwich witnessing something truly magical.

The scene was set as I entered the intimate venue. The place was shrouded in dry ice and the Rolling Stones at their dirty best were blasting from the house as the queue for the bar snaked back to the stage.

The stage itself was like nothing I’ve ever seen, and resembled a cross between a Victorian backstreet lit with gas lanterns and the best junk shop you’ve ever seen. Our headliner’s rig was set up towards the rear, and in front it was all ready for tonight’s support, who took to the stage bang on eight o’clock to a warm, if rather quiet, welcome.

The Dead Reds are from Brighton and wow do they play the blues!

The five-piece filled the stage both physically and also with bags of presence and charisma. Guitarist Max Gibson, drummer Joss Love and Ollie Holland on bass flanked Miles James on harmonica and the force of nature that was vocalist Beth Lee. Dressed in a flowing dress and with a wide-brimmed hat, she channeled great female singers like Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. Her voice is incredible and perfectly suited to their brand of swamp-drenched dirty blues. Her energy was contagious, and when she picked up the flute, alternating between complimenting the harmonica and blasting solos, they created a sound that really sets this band apart in the very busy field of blues rock.

Opener ‘Dogs of War’ was a slow burner, and it was difficult to know what to expect or where it would go, but when the drop came, all became clear as to what this band was all about. ‘Empire’ followed hot on its heels, and by the time Max stepped up to the mic and proclaimed “I know it’s a Tuesday, but let’s ‘ave it!”, they had the room in the palm of their hand. ‘Devil’s Bed’ was a highlight and as sleazy as promised, and closer ‘Red Hot Desert’ finished the set in a cacophony of glorious sound. The cheers and applause kept coming as everyone raised their hands for a photo taken by Max, and the Dead Reds left the stage and a job well done.

Cam Cole

Cam Cole’s rise to stardom is the stuff of dreams. His busking performances on the streets of Camden and other parts of London made him a cult hero through people posting on social media. He then made a cameo appearance in a season 1 episode of Ted Lasso (watch it if you haven’t!), his song ‘Mama’ was licensed by Rightmove, and the rest is history. He’s released three albums, and in 2024, filmmaker Tim Hardiman followed Cole as he trekked across America, travelling south in search of the Blues. The resulting documentary “American Mileage” is available to stream online.

Tonight in Norwich, all those life experiences came together in what can only be described as a masterclass in musicianship, the blues, and pure performance.

The lights went down just before nine, and the stage was set. Those giant street lamps glowed red while the focus was on a raised upturned chest: a throne awaiting the star of the show. His bass drum, complete with antlers, formed the centrepiece of a percussion contraption that looked like it was put together by a mad professor. At the back of the stage, a giant spiral-patterned disk looked set to rotate and hypnotise us all.

A mysterious figure (who we later discovered was called Owl) strode onto the stage and put a 78 on a vintage record player, and as the tinny, scratchy sound filtered through, Cam himself appeared, dressed in a military tunic and striped top hat. He sat on his throne, strapped a guitar on, and we were away!

The sound he makes with his foot drums, slide guitar, and two microphones (one drenched in effects) is absolutely astonishing. It really is like listening to a full band, but even more fascinating is watching him. The mechanics of what he does are fascinating. He never stops moving, and every stomp, flick, and kick hits home. Meanwhile, his guitar playing looks loose in a Keith Richards kind of way, but his sound is tight, huge, and electrifying.

He is more than just a blues artist, though. Yes, some of his songs sound like they were born in the Mississippi Delta (‘Mama’ and ‘Truth Be Told’ were beautifully dirty), but he effortlessly spans genres with some of his newer material, such as ‘Rabbit (She’s What I Want)’ and the recent single ‘Ur So Beautiful’, both of which had hints of 90’s indie and psychedelia, and with the latter showing a gentler, more sensitive side to this bluesman.

As his repertoire has expanded, so has the show, and tonight, as well as an assistant bringing Cole a range of guitars, the aforementioned Owl provided occasional accompaniment on percussion, bugle, and holding signs to signal audience participation; “SHH!” and “LAUGH” drew the appropriate responses and added to the “rock and roll circus” vibe.

It’s safe to say that the packed crowd at the Waterfront were having a ball, and the ringmaster himself was revelling in the atmosphere. He has created something truly unique with his blend of musicianship, humour, and flamboyance, and I, for one, absolutely loved it. It’s raw, honest, and beautiful. The DIY aspect makes for a punk spirit and attitude, and the result is something that appeals to a broad and varied audience.

This show was part of the “Come Together” Tour. According to his publicity, the reason for the name is because “the more of your mates and loved ones you bring, the cheaper the tickets get for all of you.” Just another reason to love Cam Cole.

Cam Cole’s tour of the UK and Ireland continues until 19th April. Go and see him!