Dylan
Rick Lennox and David
She's back! Three months after she played her rearranged pre-Christmas gig at Norwich Arts Centre, Natasha Woods, better known simply as DYLAN, returned to the city last night, and to Epic Studios in Magdalen Street, where she performed one of the most exciting, full-on pop concerts I think I have attended in Norwich. To a capacity crowd, and revelling in the arena-like setting of the former television studio, the 23 year old singer songwriter from Bures, in Suffolk, lit the blue touch paper of her set with pop rock anthem 'Lovestruck' and did not take her foot off the gas until the closing bars of 'Nothing Lasts Forever', almost an hour later.
To be honest, there was a false start – an initial sound malfunction did mean that she and the band had to leave the stage momentarily whilst the sound engineers fixed a rogue microphone, but that did not rock DYLAN off her perch one little bit. From there on in she simply cruised through her set, belting out the hits and working the young crowd into a right old frenzy.
I missed DYLAN last time around here in Norwich – ironically, I was at Epic Studios that night for West Country folk legend Seth Lakeman, but even by last November it was becoming clear that she was destined for big things. A busy 2022 saw her perform more than 100 shows, including a set at Latitude as well as providing tour support for Bastille, Tate McRae and Ed Sheeran. Now, she is on her own 'The Greatest Thing I'll Never Learn' tour, which kicked off in Dublin and finishes in the UK with two dates in London at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire.
Her set at Epic Studios included all the hits, including 'Girl of Your Dreams', 'No Romeo', and the wonderfully sardonic 'You're Not Harry Styles'. In between songs her self-belief and confidence shone through, but it is tempered with a friendliness and sense of humour which is completely disarming. Even a nasty chest infection is brushed off with a nonchalent comment about it making her voice sound huskier, and more rock'n'roll. And yet, when she spots a young fan drop to to the floor near the front of the stage, she immediately stops the band, offers her water, and beckons security over.
DYLAN possesses charm and charisma, but is also a seriously good rock singer and guitarist. Tonight's gig was not only a triumph for her and her band, but also for all the staff at Epic, whose hard work and efforts created a safe space for the predominantly young audience, many of whom were accompanied by their parents (who, along with me, attempted to blend into the shadows at the back of the room). The sound and the lights were, as ever, superb, and the whole evening had all the atmosphere of an indoor arena gig.
Opening support came from an impressive Scottish-Irish duo, Siights, comprising Mia Fitz and Toni Etherson, who have been quietly writing songs with hit-makers like Emi Dragoi and Mark McCabe. Standout track from them tonight was 'Shoulda Been', taken from their debut EP released last year. Well worth a listen.
