Gig Review: Samantha Fish – Rock City Nottingham 2026

8 March 2026 rocknews

Samantha Fish and Zac Schulze Gang Rock City Review: High-Voltage Blues Electrifies Nottingham

The Early Arrival and the Nottingham Buzz

Samantha Fish and Zac Schulze Gang Rock City: There is a specific kind of electricity that hums through the air surrounding Rock City on a Saturday night. Unlike some tour dates that see lines snaking around the block for hours, tonight the entry was smooth, yet the speed with which the venue reached capacity was staggering. It is a rare sight to see the main venue’s famous “bouncy floor” already densely packed before the first support act has even tuned a guitar.

The Nottingham faithful were clearly out in force early, sensing that something special was about to unfold. The atmosphere inside was a potent mixture of stage haze, excited chatter, and the low-frequency growl of the PA—a heavy promise of the volume to come. There was an unmistakable feeling in the room that the audience hadn’t just come for a headliner; they had come for a double-bill of world-class guitar mastery. The buzz surrounding the opening act has been growing steadily across the UK, and tonight felt like the moment that hype became a physical reality in the heart of the Midlands.

The Zac Schulze Gang: A City-Powering Explosion

Samantha Fish and Zac Schulze Gang Rock City Review

From the second they stepped into the spotlight, The Zac Schulze Gang operated at a frequency most bands take an entire tour to reach. Opening with the relentless “High Roller,” Zac Schulze was quite literally on fire from the start. He delivered a performance with a raw, kinetic energy that could quite easily power a small city.

Zac moves across the stage like a man possessed, his body jerking in time with every note as if the guitar were a physical extension of his own nervous system. There is a frantic, old-school brilliance to his playing that harks back to the 70s blues-rock of Rory Gallagher and Dr Feelgood. Yet, it is delivered with a modern, snarling charm that holds a space as large as Rock City in thrall. The sheer velocity of his picking hand is enough to make seasoned guitarists in the crowd shake their heads in disbelief.

The Dynamics of the Trio

The chemistry of this trio is undoubtedly their greatest asset. While Zac fires off volleys of bluesy riffs, the rhythm section matches his intensity pound for pound. This internal synergy was best demonstrated during “Woman,” the second track of the evening, which saw Zac and bassist Ant Greenwell trading blistering solos.

Ant’s melodic, thick bass runs provided a perfect counterpoint to Zac’s stinging lead work, proving that this is a band where every member is “match fit.” Ben Schulze on drums held an unassailable groove, leaving just enough space for the guitar to snap and pop through the heavy air of the venue. The crowd reaction to these exchanges was immense. In a venue known for its discerning rock fans, seeing a support act get such a thunderous reception for a bass-and-guitar duel is a testament to their world-class musicianship.

Hole in My Pocket: A Moment of Character

The band’s versatility was further showcased when vocal duties were shared. “Hole in My Pocket” saw Ant take the lead on a track introduced by Zac as being all about “the green stuff”. This bit of cheeky stage banter allowed the band’s pub-rock personality to shine through, breaking the fourth wall and connecting with the Nottingham crowd.

It gave the audience a brief breather from the high-speed shredding while maintaining that heavy, swinging groove that pinned the audience to the back wall. The riff rolled forward on a steady pulse, with Zac’s guitar lines wandering freely between tight rhythmic stabs and wailing blues phrases. It was a moment that showcased their warmth and humour, proving they are as comfortable with a loose, live groove as they are with high-speed technicality.

A Seismic Conclusion: “Oh Well”

As the set raced towards its conclusion, the Gang proved they could command a legendary stage like Rock City with the authority of seasoned veterans. Following a frantic “Ballyshannon Blues” and the gritty “Hellhounds On My Trail,”they reached their final peak.

They finished their support slot with a thunderous rendition of the Fleetwood Mac classic, “Oh Well.” The guitar literally took a kicking as the solo headed in all manner of demented, high-energy directions. It was a choice that respected the blues-rock lineage while injecting it with a shot of pure adrenaline.

As the final notes rang out, the room erupted in a round of cheers and clapping so loud you could easily have been mistaken for thinking they were the main act of the night. It was a seismic conclusion that left the floor shaking and the bar set impossibly high for what was to follow.

Samantha Fish: The Magnetic Electra-Glider

Stepping into the wake of that whirlwind, Samantha Fish brought a sophisticated, cinematic cool to the stage. Dressed in her signature sharp attire with a commanding posture, she immediately reclaimed the room. She didn’t rely on theatrics; instead, she let her tone shape the story from the first chord.

Launching straight into the brooding swagger of “Paper Doll,” she established a mood that was both gritty and polished. The Paper Doll tour finds Fish at her most ambitious, blending her modern blues roots with a heightened clarity of vision. She has the look, the voice, and the mastery of her instrument that totally captivates the room.

Genre-Bending and Vocal Mastery

The setlist was a masterclass in pacing, moving from slide-guitar stompers to soulful ballads. After the opening punch of “Can Ya Handle the Heat?”, the transition into “I’m Done Runnin’” showcased a vocal range that has become a centerpiece of her craft. Her voice moves effortlessly between a smoky, soulful purr and a defiant, gritty roar.

Following up with “Sweet Southern Sounds,” the band locked into a melodic rhythm that allowed the song’s Nashville-meets-blues textures to breathe. By the time she reached “Lose You” and “Don’t Say You Love Me,” the audience was fully under her spell. It is this adaptability—the ability to pivot from snarling overdrive to clean, soulful sparkle—that keeps the audience hanging on every note.

Samantha Fish and Zac Schulze Gang Rock City Review: The Climax

The inevitable arrival of the cigar-box guitar for “Bulletproof” remains a visceral highlight, but tonight it felt like something more than just a fan-favourite staple. The track built toward a truly dramatic climax, dragging the entire crowd along in its wake. The air in Rock City was thick with rhythmic clapping and cheers as Samantha steered the song into a high-tension peak that demanded total engagement from every person in the room.

This energy was maintained as she transitioned into “Fortune Teller,” which featured ominous, low-key vocals and a sinister ambience. Positioning the track here allowed the audience to soak in the dark, organic atmosphere she had just created, proving that Fish knows exactly how to manipulate the dynamics of a live space.

Mississippi Grit and the Rock City Barrier

The deep-south stomp of “Poor Black Mattie” truly brought the Mississippi blues to Nottingham. In another moment of pure connection, Fish ventured out onto the crowd barrier, complete with her guitar and a radiant smile. She seemed genuinely pleased to be there, noting that Rock City is the only stage on the entire tour low enough to allow her to leave the stage mid-song and get truly eye-to-eye with the fans.

This level of intimacy in a space of this size is rare, and it served to further solidify the bond between the artist and her loyal “Fish-head” following. The vibe during this section was “nasty” in the best possible way, with dirty fuzz and a compressed vocal sound that felt like it was being beamed in from a Delta swamp.

The Heavy Roar and the Ballad Apology

As the set entered its final stretch, “Rusty Razor” brought a noticeably heavy, rocking sound to the venue. This track acted as a bridge between the bluesier roots of the mid-set and the explosive finale. Its driving rhythm and aggressive guitar work provided a shot of adrenaline, reminding everyone that while Fish is a master of soul and subtlety, she is just as capable of delivering a blistering rock anthem.

However, even a guitar hero has to show her softer side. Announcing the soaring “Dreamgirl” to the audience, she jokingly apologised to the Rock City faithful for singing a ballad in such a legendary, hard-rocking club venue. It was a charming moment of self-awareness that was met with cheers rather than jeers, proving that this crowd appreciated the light and shade of her performance just as much as the high-volume shredding.

The Grand Finale: Black Wind Howlin’

Samantha unleashed the full power of “Black Wind Howlin’” to bring the regular set to its peak. It was a finale packed with emotive solos and searing bends that seemed to touch the very rafters of the venue. Fish’s mastery of the instrument was on full display here; she has a way of dropping the band to a whisper to hold the room in suspense before releasing a wave of articulate vibrato that sends the crowd into a frenzy. It was a virtuosic display of phrasing and sustain that left the crowd screaming for more as she exited the stage.

Samantha Fish And Zac Schulze The Encore: A Six-String Symbiosis

The night reached its ultimate boiling point during the encore. In what has become a signature moment of the tour, Fish brought Zac Schulze back out to the stage for a blistering run through “Bitch on the Run”. Watching the two trade solos was a meeting of minds and muscle.

Samantha’s fluid, expressive lines clashing and intertwining with Zac’s jagged, punk-infused attack created a “six-string symbiosis” that was the highlight of the night. The energy on stage was infectious, with both guitarists clearly enjoying the challenge of pushing each other further. It was a display of mutual respect and competitive shredding that brought the evening neatly full circle, leaving the Nottingham crowd in a state of sheer exhilaration.

Rock News Final Reflections: Samantha Fish and Zac Schulze Gang Rock City Review

As this was the final night of Samantha’s tour, there was an added layer of emotion beneath the feedback. She has always shared a deep connection with her UK audiences, but none seemed stronger than the one she holds with Nottingham. Taking a moment between songs to address the venue, her heartfelt thanks went out to the crowd for their unwavering support.

If The Zac Schulze Gang provided the raw electricity, Samantha Fish was the lightning that gave it direction and soul. This was a performance that celebrated the resilience and evolution of the blues. Both acts proved they are not just “ones to watch”—they are the benchmark for quality rock ‘n’ roll in 2026. As the fans filtered out, the consensus was clear: they had just witnessed two of the finest guitarists of their respective generations sharing the same hallowed ground on a truly historic final night.