On the first properly chilly night this autumn, Sigrid breezed into town with Nordic flair. Only a few hours before the release of her third studio album, There’s Always More That I Could Say, the Norwegian pop singer-songwriter appeared at the incredibly intimate setting of Metronome...
Norwegian star Sigrid is entirely at home on festival and arena stages, but seemed to relish the opportunity to be close to her fans again on the Metronome stage where she was easily within earshot of every comment and question. There were plenty of those directed at her from the crowd this evening. It was a full house, with plenty of locals as well as fans who’d travelled from far and wide to see their favourite star up close and personal; many were amazed to see how low and close the stage was.
Sigrid strolled out bang on time, accompanied by her usual lead guitarist Sondre Berg Abrahamsen and a pianist / guitarist named Scarlet (I think... and if anyone knows her full name, please email in!) and wisely chose to open with a well-known banger, Sucker Punch. The arrangement - just vocals and guitars - was entirely stripped back and the fact it still sounded so strong and, well, punchy, is testament to some very high quality songwriting. The song was packed full of harmonies and brief vocal adlibs, with Sigrid’s voice sounding sweet and crisp – this despite her describing her brain as being “like scrambled egg” tonight, due to the intensity of the album release campaign in which she was embroiled.
The second-ever live performance of new song Kiss the Sky followed: a song which was apparently inspired by Sylvia Plath’s 'The Bell Jar' and featured humorous spoken words as well as perky and instantly catchy sung sections. We then heard another new album track, Do It Again before a return to the classics, with Don’t Feel Like Crying.
But first, there was plenty of time for Sigrid to chat to the crowd, including one very persistent fan who was about to celebrate her fortieth birthday and keen for her idol — and the rest of the audience — to know it. It took another audience member to tell her, “The show’s not about you”, to calm her down. Sometimes a little more self-awareness would go a long way.
In her introduction to Don’t Feel Like Crying, Sigrid explained how much she loves karaoke, but that she tends to pick her own songs to sing, of which this one is her favourite to belt out. It was clear that no one in the room would object to being part of that karaoke experience.
With the acoustic arrangement of new song I’ll Always Be Your Girl came some superbly rehearsed rapid hand-clapping, which contrasted nicely with the long drawn-out vocals of the chorus line. Then, another mixing of eras with Plot Twist.
Sigrid is someone who really knows how to put on a show; there would be many artists of her level who simply couldn’t translate their arena-filling pop style into a small room like this, but the Metronome event showed another layer of skill from this veteran performer. It was a combination of careful musical arrangement (converting electric beats to muted guitar strums, buzzy synths to bass notes), lots of rehearsal and just the right level of scripting, leaving room for the context of the venue to shine through and make the experience feel unique.
A beautiful, delicate and sparse arrangement of the new album’s title track There’s Always More That I Could Say came next, and then Eternal Sunshine which Sigrid explained as a song designed to bring “a feeling of wanting to erase every memory of something that was so special”. It’s an absolutely beautiful song, sparkling with shimmering melody, particularly in tonight’s acoustic arrangement. That one brought a true hush to the room.
Sigrid moved briefly to the piano to perform Strangers after which she said again how excited she was to be in such a small venue, and encouraged questions from the audience.
“Can you come to Derby?” was one which sparked cheers and groans in equal measure.
Have You Heard This Song Before was a song written in Bergen, Norway – somehow knowing that brought an added layer of Scandi glamour to the sound, which was already fresh and seemed to shoot unerringly to the heart.
Next up, Jellyfish, which Sigrid herself seemed thrilled to be showcasing in acoustic form. There’s a quirky little dance to accompany the song (I remember it being very popular at YNot when Sigrid played there in the summer), and it turns out it was invented by a fan at Tramlines Festival. And in fact, a fan who was at Metronome tonight. Also in the room, a couple who had got engaged while listening to the song. All of this saw the thrill level ratched up several more notches, both on stage and off it.
Finally, and ensuring the gig ended exactly within its advertised one hour, Don’t Kill My Vibe... “That little bastard of a song… I love playing it. I never get tired of it.”
There’s an electric kind of energy which – when everything is aligned just right – fizzes between fans and performers and makes small gigs extra special. Tonight, Sigrid locked on to and soaked up that energy like a battery, before releasing it amplified as she sang with fierce, passionate concentration. This was a relatively brief but surely unforgettable visit from the Scandi star.
Sigrid performed at Metronome on 23rd October 2025.
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