Gig Review: Shannon Pearl, Talk Like Tigers, Ani Sandwith

Headlined by Shannon Pearl on Friday 27th of March, Newgate Social welcomed an immersive journey through sound, storytelling, and feminine expression. Supported by Ani Sandwith and Talk Like Tigers, the night moved seamlessly between introspection and release, each act carving out their own space while contributing to a shared sense of connection.

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Ani Sandwith

There’s a particular kind of honesty that landed with Ani’s performance. A rawness that suited this neo-soul folk singer perfectly, whose piano-led set unfolded less like a performance and more like a confessional shared in real time.

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Ani’s song Too Close sat at the intersection of warmth and weight. The chords were rich but unshowy, giving space for her voice to carry the emotional core of each song. She moved between smoky, low-register verses and quietly soaring choruses, never overreaching, always in control.

Lyrically, the set didn’t shy away from complexity. Themes of political unrest and personal heartbreak were threaded together in a way that felt both intimate and outward-looking. The audience seemed to recognise the weight of what they were being given, meeting it with attentive silence. Even between songs, there was a sense of care in the room, as if everyone understood that this wasn’t background music; it demanded to be felt.

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There was no grand finale, no dramatic crescendo…just a quiet closing number that settled over the room, like a final thought left hanging in the air. It was the kind of performance that makes you shift in your seat, not out of discomfort, but because of how directly it connects.

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Talk Like Tigers

Twin sisters, Stephanie and Charlotte, allowed us to step into a glitter-drenched time capsule, where the noughties club scene never really died. Their electro-pop sound leans unapologetically into that era, pulsing with glossy synths and an infectious sense of fun, but still feels fresh enough to hold its own in today’s pop landscape.

Just when you think you’ve got them figured out, they switch gears. Stripping things back, the duo delivered an acoustic rendition of Linger by The Cranberries, a moment that completely hushed the room. Beneath the sparkle, there’s real vocal chemistry and emotional weight, offering a soft, nostalgic counterpoint to their high-energy originals.

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One standout from the set was Killer Barbie, an unreleased track that already feels like a fan favourite waiting to happen. Built as an unapologetic anthem of self-expression, it champions femininity in all its forms. Unfortunately not released yet, but I will be looking out for the announcement!

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Shannon Pearl

The atmosphere felt almost summoned rather than incidental when Shannon Pearl, the witch-pop folk singer, took the stage.Transforming a modest room into something closer to a ritual space than a gig.

From the first note, her sound was both delicate and unsettling in the best way. Her song Celestial gave us fingerpicked instrumental lines woven through soft, incantatory vocals, building songs that felt less performed and more conjured. Using a traditional folk-band line up and implementing modern electronic beats and guitar lines, there’s a distinct duality to her music, fragile yet grounded, eerie yet warm. With lyrics remaining steeped in folklore and quiet rebellion.

The intimacy of the venue worked entirely in her favour, drawing the audience into a shared stillness and bursting into a communal dance. Highlights included a haunting mid-set ballad that built from a near-whisper into a soaring, multi-layered chorus, as well as a closing track that leaned more heavily into percussive elements, hinting at a broader sonic palette without losing that signature mysticism.

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What made the night special wasn’t just the music itself, but the sense of witnessing something in its natural habitat. We found power in presence, intention, and a voice that knows exactly how to haunt.

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The evening as a whole felt like a celebration of divine femininity, expressed in three distinct, compelling, and powerful forms. With an all-female lineup at its heart, it invited the audience to surrender to a shared dream, one delicately woven through the stories and sounds of each performance.

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Artist Links

Shannon Pearl >

Talk Like Tigers >

Ani Sandwith >