Music / Reviews
Review: Imogen & the Knife, the Louisiana – ‘A striking sense of self’
Imogen and the Knife, as comforting as a friend humming melodies from a hand-me-down living room piano, is a kind and compelling storyteller.
She crafts orchestral ballads with delicate hands, beautifully arranged alongside a haunting brass section, holding a space of compassion in her lyric that touches emotions in a way that feels raw and genuine – a trait hard to come by in modern music so much more concerned with the hardcore.
Imogen Williams originally established herself as a solo artist in 2018 before reinventing her sound with full band accompaniment
Haunting and distinctive, multi-faceted creative Canty took to the stage as Imogen’s support for the night.
They truly are an artist with a natural capacity to play. With only an electric guitar and vocal to underpin their unique sound, deep rooted in an indie, shoe-gaze atmosphere, they breathe emotion into a genre that oftentimes becomes overly pondering and prosaic.
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Canty holds the stage in a trance, gently rocking from side to side as if reciting a spiritual verse, then reaching into the depths of something devotional to expand melodies into guitar bridges that are gentle and fresh.
Alongside a soulful rendition of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s The Power of Love, Imogen steps up to join them in a chillingly romantic duet, pausing to ask the sound engineer for some ‘chilli daddy’ reverb and gently giggling. These are artists who aren’t afraid to be kind and caring live.
A fanfare signals Imogen’s arrival on to the stage for her headline set
Jumping onto the stage accompanied by a fabulous brass section fanfare, the North East native established her music as an art form expressing a striking sense of self, enveloped by her relationships, family, home and experiences.
Her first EP, released in 2024, holds a visible through-line of love in all its forms, exploring the pain, joy, memories and comfort it brings.
Her first headline tour is strikingly beautiful, with crowds gathering after her success as a support for The Last Dinner Party on their 2025 tour and eager to hear more from her.
The music has an emotional core but also rock-out and singalong moments
Beginning the set with a sensual slow beat likened to Massive Attack, Imogen and the Knife are undoubtedly dynamic in their range of inspirations.
Adrianne Lenker and Joni Mitchell-style scenic lyricism holds clarity against the crashing baritone saxophone and trumpet, and the amazing bluesy base carries melodies through with ease.
Her sound has an emotional heart, slow and abrasive, and allows darker topics to be explored in a way that is optimistic and carefully placed.
The audience gently sway and hum along, a kind crowd who feel at ease and conscious of the talent they are witnessing.
It is undoubtedly a magical atmosphere, with Imogen picking up on friendly small talk in the crowd and admitting to her post-gig plans: “I’m gonna have a bit of a cry because it’s been so lovely”.
We rocked out to Mother of God, shed tears to Paris Night, sung along with Red (Is My Colour) and were treated to some new unreleased music. What more could you ask for in a gig?
All images: Poppy Beresford
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