US Blues Rock guitar Queen Samantha Fish’s return to the London stage tonight was a triumph. Fish’s guitar majesty dominated her stage as well as this iconic venue. The capacity crowd were spellbound throughout her ramped-up set. Wherever you were, on whichever level of this large retro arena, whether standing or seated, you wanted to see Kansas City's finest play and sing. This evening was part of her UK homecoming, and Fish owned the night, as the crowd embraced her with open ears and eyes.

Visually Fish is magnetic. Blonde Marilyn Monroe bob, meets sleek black leather jump suit. Think Suzi Quatro, but Fish is far sexier and sassy on her lead guitars. Switching with ease throughout her set, she played her fret strokes fluently, lovingly and hard, and was the essence of femininity meets hard edged Blues Rock and Roll. Vocally, she is arresting too, where Country Americana, meets Rock meets Blues - rasping and raw at times - but always so potent. Indeed, the sound range in her set was a multiplicity, comprising Country Funk, Americana, Blues, Blue Grass, Blues Rock and Hard edged Rock, drawing me in with her songs and lyrics, working her music magic.

Her live set so superbly delivered a selection of quality songs taken from her latest 2026 Grammy award nominated Best Contemporary Blues Album, 'Paper Doll'. Indeed, the title track followed her opener, a cover of MC5’s classic 'Kick Out the Jams', along with 'I’m Done Runnin', 'Sweet Southern Sounds', 'Lose You' and 'Fortune Teller'. Her searing life themes soared with score and vocal mastery, as her excellent fellow musicians wrapped around Fish with their understated, session like sound, as Queen Samantha shone.

Despite a 90 minute set from the Missouri born Fish, only 37 years old, but playing with a maturity that belies her years, albeit with nine albums to draw on, this also meant that for however long she played, it was just too darn short! Also including 'Miles to Go', 'Don’t Say It', a cover of R.L. Burnside's 'Poor Black Mattie' and 'Black Wind Howlin', Fish engaged with the audience with warmth, and it seemed that she also had a soft spot for London and the UK, even alluding to a former relationship/situationship here!

Yet she has navigated life and the big themes of love on her own terms, with driving guitar discipline, ambition, positivity and success. My 'Fortune Teller’s take is that Fish’s success will only multiply and so will her scoreboard of awards and success. Please follow Samantha, as she is, per the beautiful vocal on her melodic slower ballad, a 'Dream Girl'!

Whilst all eyes were later on Samantha Fish, this was after a terrific set from UK electrifying Blues Rock trio The Zac Schulze Gang. Front man Zac on vocals and guitar covers the stage with speed and his intense performance encompasses the essence of live Blues Rock. Indeed, like the name of their first album, they are 'Live and Loud', with bassist and co-vocalist Ant Greenwell and drummer Ben Schulze providing the counterpoint, acting like the circuit breakers, grounding the great live sound.

Formed in 2020, the trio have already achieved well deserved recognition and awards, such as winning “Emerging Act Of The Year” at the UK Blues Awards 2024, plus Zac also winning “Young Artist of The Year" at the UK Blues Awards 2025, as well as being nominated in 2026. The band have performed at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival, are touring Europe, and both the Netherlands and Germany love them. Indeed, tonight I loved Zac’s cheeky personality and our Blues Community should be so proud of this UK export. Sprinting across the stage, Schulze’s energy was such high voltage, loaded and ramped up, combining raw vocals, a magnetic sound as well as visual pulling power. Indeed, Zac was like a prize boxer to the audience, but with a guitar!

Set opener was the Rock based 'High Roller', taken from their 2025 'Straight To It' album. Indeed, their set was very much straight to it in attitude, loud, proud, bold and in your face. 'Ballyshannon Blues', 'Hole In My Pocket' and their Tony Dowlers Hellhounds cover of 'Hellhounds On My Trail', were all part of a superb electrifying set. Suffice to say that they certainly plugged me in on maximum voltage ready for the main act, while the excellent 'Woman', with its driving hard sound, exemplified their more modern Dr. Feelgood/Nine Below Zero vibe. Suffice to say, Zac, Ant and Ben, this woman loves your sound! Go Guys! The Zac Schulze Gang are a must see!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester