Words and photos by: Izzy Chedzey
Finishing work and speeding down the M5, we made a quick stop for a rice stir fry to fuel us for the chaotic night ahead. Soon enough, we arrived at Electric Bristol just in time to see Poppy take the stage.
Ocean Grove
Arriving halfway through the second band’s set, the crowd for Ocean Grove were already banging heads and moshing, their excitement steadily building as anticipation for the headliner grew.
When their set finished, the room shifted. The crowd tightened together, waiting patiently. Voiceovers filled the venue while the drum kit stood high above the stage, ready to pound and shake the floor beneath the audience. With every passing minute, the energy inside Electric Bristol continued to build.
Poppy
Opening with “Bruised Sky,” Poppy wasted no time setting the tone for the night. Having started her career making pop music, she has since evolved into blending those melodies with heavy industrial sounds. Her guttural vocals were just as powerful live as they are on record, instantly proving why she has built such a dedicated following.
Moving into fan favourite “Bloodmoney,” the room was suddenly drenched in red lights and strobing flashes as Poppy stomped along to the pounding drum beat. The guitar solo rang out across the venue, showcasing the band’s tight live sound and igniting another surge of movement from the crowd.
During “Scary Mask,” attention turned to the band behind Poppy, each member wearing a matching mask while Poppy theatrically revealed one of her own. As the track hit its stride, the crowd erupted again, opening into a wall-to-wall mosh pit that pulled fans straight into the chaos.
Eventually, I decided to join in myself, getting caught up in the energy of the evening. Thrown side to side in the pit, I finally wriggled my way to the front barrier. From there, it was impossible to ignore the dedication of Poppy’s fans.
After encouraging the crowd with a shout of “I want to see more crowd surfers!” the audience took it as a challenge. Now at the barrier, fans were constantly flying overhead. At one point, I even had to shield two girls beside me from an incoming boot as another surfer sailed across the room. It was chaotic, intense, and exactly the kind of energy the crowd had come to experience.
But the night wasn’t all relentless chaos. Poppy’s ability to switch from brutal heaviness to softer moments was shown during “Never Find My Place.” Under gentle pink lighting, Poppy stood in her delicate white lace outfit, holding a bedazzled microphone as fans lifted their phone torches and swayed their arms side to side. The calm created a striking contrast to the wild scenes that had filled the venue just moments before.
Chants of “What do we want? Poppy!” rang through the room, calling the band back for one final moment. Closing the night with “New Way Out,” the energy reached its peak once again. One daring fan even crowd surfed with a vintage film camera in hand, capturing their moment mid-flight as the crowd cheered them on.
As the lights came up and the crowd spilled back onto the streets of Bristol, it was clear that Poppy had delivered exactly what her fans came for: a chaotic, emotional and unforgettable performance that proved why she continues to command such a devoted audience.
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