Music / Reviews
Review: Divorce, Trinity Centre – ‘From ethereal to guttural’
Part two of Divorce’s debut album tour at a sold out Trinity Community Arts Centre: the hall is crammed to celebrate a special year for the band.
Released in March, Drive to Goldenhammer is surely in everyone’s albums of the year. Does the record still feel fresh; does it need to? Or has it matured and evolved like a healthy divorce could?
EatDrink24/7 Launch Party is back on July 8 2026!Exclusive collabs from Bristol’s favourite food vendors, available for one night only. Be first to grab your free copy of the EatDrink24/7 guide – plus every ticket comes with a free limited-edition beer can.View this post on Instagram
Before we fathom this tonight’s support act is Curiosity Shop, a five piece classic folk act with soul and a lot of great songs for a band who have released no songs! A band where the accordion takes centre place as much as their stunning shared vocal harmonies.
The accordion renders sad songs sadder and gives the up-tempo numbers a lift. With the intermittent double bass providing a full-bodied richness, their sound resembled Fleet Foxes with elements of Kings Of Convenience, from what is clearly a tight knit talented bunch of musicians.
View this post on Instagram
Never was there a softer landing than when vocalist/bassist Tiger opens with her solitary captivating vocal and Karen fills the hall. The song soon changes from ethereal to guttural, giving the rough to the smooth and the grief to the loss. The mood and the bar are set high.
At the centre of Divorce’s sound is the rich mix of vocals of Felix and Tiger, Gears being a great example where their voices offer contrast and converge to flow effortlessly in unity. This also means they can sing any type of song you like.
The set leans heavily on Drive to Goldenhammer early doors, and why wouldn’t it? It was an album released with high hopes which it then emphatically fulfilled. The set feels like a greatest hits despite the band having released only one album.
Pill is announced next: Felix looks on in awe as Tiger takes centre stage, this song her beast with its moving mid-song breakdown: the purity in her vocal performance as it cuts the song in half, stops the beat and provides a beautiful moment of reflection, then lifts into an almost upbeat groove.
Bone Machine has single written all over it, while Christmas indicates the band have a lot to offer going into 2026, after which we are left with a four-song joy attack for all Divorce fans: Antarctica, Lord, Checking Out and Hangman.
The song Christmas featured Yan from support band Curiosity Shop adding accordion to the track
The size and noise of the congregation was not lost on Felix as set closer Hangman is sung through his gritted smiles, the original emotive notions of the song taken over by the joy of being in a moment of acceptance and adulation from Bristol’s beaming backing choir. I guess this is why people want to make music.
The refrain “I care about you already, I wanna lift you up” builds in repetition into a euphoric wholesome chant, lifting us all.
I arrived curious and left with all my questions answered, and the promise of new music to look forward to a massive bonus.
All images: Matt Barnes
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
