Gig review: Daudi Matsiko at Metronome

Words: Katherine Monk-Watts

Photos: Nigel King

Wednesday 08 October 2025

reading time: min, words

Music Live music Metronome

The one-and-only “King of Misery” Daudi Matsiko moved us all with his heartfelt music, latest stories, mental health activism and his award-winning personality during a magical evening at Nottingham’s Metronome…

The night opened with two talented support acts and mutual friends of Daudi’s. The charming Cecille Grey got us warmed up first, with her enchanting alt-folk melodies, tender vocals and ethereal presence, accentuated by soft serene blue and purple lighting and mist circling the stage. Her voice is like an exquisite siren, and a unique blend for any fans of Joni Mitchell, Anne Briggs and Bess Atwell.

Ashaine White is Gen Z charisma personified. A powerful vocalist, who packs a mighty euphonious punch, she pulls on your heartstrings whilst finding relatability through mutual connection, honesty and open wit in her lyrics. I Sing to Myself and Let Me Down were notable songs that showcased her versatile vocal range. Ashaine will soon be going on tour to support Nova Twins during their UK tour. If you have the opportunity to see her live, 100% take it.

Before Daudi graced us with his lovely presence on stage, we had a moving introduction and opening speech from Richard Flewitt, the Chair of Trustees from The Wolfpack Project, a Nottingham youth charity which provides support for young individuals mental health, aged 16-35 across Nottinghamshire.

Richard discussed how Daudi’s music has touched him to such a deep level and how it resonates with the quiet growing mental health crisis that affects us all; the unresourced NHS gap, the waiting times for therapy, isolation, the lack of understanding surrounding these issues.

Richard continued to mention all the incredible support and local activities The Wolfpack Project have put in place to empower young people, through art groups, coffee meetings, and sports games to make everyone feel seen, heard, understood (and a reminder that you’re not alone.) If you wish to support The Wolfpack Project and their vital work, please donate here.

(Now, back to the gig!) Richard welcomed Daudi to the stage, and we cheered and chuckled as he walked on with a bashful grin, his signature self-deprecating humour and a classic acoustic guitar in hand. He thanked us all for coming before opening the night with an idyllic cover of All That You Give by The Cinematic Orchestra, which had us all captivated in our seats.

Hauntingly beautiful Tiger’s Dream followed, a collaborative single that will feature on Daudi’s upcoming EP Dead Bird Dream. This song was conveniently released just the day before the gig, and we had the lucky pleasure of listening to the debuted track on the Metronome stage. Daudi detailed the inspiration from the song, which all came from an absurd dream through the fascinating imagination of Divorce’s Tiger Cohen-Towell.

Tiger left Daudi a voice note one day and he shared with us what they told him: "I had a dream about you. I asked to sleep at your house, and you said yes and put me on a camp bed in your room. And in this dream, a bird flew in through the window, and its brain fell out – and there was blood everywhere! I was panicking, and you were as cool as a cucumber! Like: 'Ah mate, it’s all good, don’t worry about it!'"

(We can totally see Daudi reacting that way in a crisis, dream or no dream.)

This song was a stand-out performance for me. Daudi recounts Tiger’s Dream through solemn storytelling, acoustic guitar pickings and such distinct sentiment; it was a privilege to witness live. The song is a hard-hitting metaphor on mental wellbeing, not to be forgotten and has already nearly 2,000 streams on Spotify.

Tracks from Daudi’s highly praised critically acclaimed 2024 folk album The King of Misery of course also made appearances on the setlist: Fool Me As Many Times As You Like, King of Misery, I Am Grateful For My Friends, Guilt, Hymn and oMo (Man.) The album’s introspective namesake King of Misery featured harmonious audience participation, with a final collective chorus of “f**kkkkkkk off!” altogether, which felt very therapeutic and kept everyone in high spirits. I Am Grateful For My Friends, is a personal favourite song from the album, due to Daudi’s fragile yet powerful vocals, candid narrative and impressive whistling solo. Daudi brought out an organelle for Hymn, the divine penultimate track from KOM, a truly moving song that will bring you to tears, a track that is full of anguish, despair but also about finding some hopeful comfort in a state of hopelessness.

Daudi then followed Hymn with a greeting Ugandan song Tukutendereza, as he discussed his experience of feeling torn between his two cultural identities of being British Ugandan; how his parents came over to the UK in the late 70s/early 80s, and their “surprise of raising three very British kids.” How he doesn’t feel “British enough” in the UK, or “Ugandan enough” in Uganda, despite feeling peace in the country; he is also bothered by not speaking the language.

Daudi closed his set with affectionate and expressive Take Me Old, a beautiful single off Disc 2 from his 2017 album An Introduction to Failure, before a demanded encore of oMo and Dead Bird, (another single which will appear on his upcoming EP in November) that brought the whimsical evening to a delicious close.

The gig was a supportive and immersive serene atmosphere from start to finish. Daudi Matsiko took us on personal journey of joyful melancholy throughout his music, and he deeply connected with every single person in the room, something that we will never take for granted. Thank you Daudi, and we can’t wait for the release of Dead Bird Dream in November.

Daudi Matsiko’s upcoming EP Dead Bird Dream will be released 28th November 2025. Daudi performed at Metronome on 2nd October 2025, with support from Cecille Grey and Ashaine White.

@daudi

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