What a year it has been for Nottingham’s indie darlings Divorce. Since their historic four-night sold out run at The Bodega last September, they’ve released a critically acclaimed debut album in Drive To Goldenhammer, toured music festivals and venues all around the world and ended up on the cover of NME Magazine. Then to put a bow on an incredible 12 months, they closed out their headline UK tour at Rock City this past weekend with their biggest hometown show to date. Here’s what happened at their victory lap…
Before the doors even open for the show tonight we have some business to attend to – presenting Divorce with their LeftLion Album of the Year award, the first time we have presented a physical prize for the honour. The band are gracious and humble in receipt as you’d expect, before they then film a hilarious Premier League style trophy lift with the coveted colourful Lion award. A well-deserved win and a great way to start the night’s celebrations.
Once the doors are open, it’s into the main hall for tonight’s support act: Walt Disco. A hugely underrated live act, the Glaswegian glam rockers sound majestic tonight, with lead singer Jocelyn Si channelling the spirit of David Bowie in their vocal performance. They hilariously make a joke at one point about Charlie Lock playing “Lead Bass”, one that seemingly goes over the heads of most of the audience who just clap along.
Once Jocelyn finishes giggling away to themselves, the band play through further gems from their back catalogue, before getting everyone to loudly scream and show their excitement for Divorce, who are up next.
From the moment the band take to the stage, the love for them in the room is palpable. The Premier League celebration earlier in the night now feels fitting, as the atmosphere in Rock City is akin to a trophy parade. As they open tenderly on Karen Carpenter tribute Karen, Tiger Cohen-Towell is noticeably emotional already. But this is a party tonight too, with the smoky riffs of Jet Show and Gears getting the singalongs started early, before Tiger jumps over the barrier and into the crowd for an energetic performance of Scratch Your Metal.
“This is boggling my brain!” says Felix Mackenzie-Barrow, who is also clearly taken aback by the whole occasion too. He tells a story of having a Pepsi thrown at the back of his head earlier in the day, resulting in a sticky hairdo for the gig this evening. Tiger then gives Nottingham its flowers, calling it the “most supportive place”. Whether they play cuts off Drive To Goldenhammer or their early EPs and singles, it doesn’t matter - the reception is loud. Parachuter, Eat My Words and Pill all get certain sections of the crowd passionately engaged, while Old Broken String is then a delicate midway point in the set, with barely a pindrop to be heard over Felix’s folky vocals.
"Could we play a new song?" asks Tiger, with the audience responding unanimously and emphatically with a loud cheer. The song is Bone Museum, which is as strong as any other track played tonight, proving that Divorce are already cooking up Album No.2. Drummer Kasper Sandstrom then takes a moment to plug his Rescue Rooms DJ Set for the official afterparty, but Rock City isn’t done with them just yet. Divorce have saved their biggest moments for last, with the rock stomp of Where Did You Go leading into the beloved All My Freaks. At the song’s climax, a mid-set ovation erupts, Rock City almost having its roof blown off from the noise being generated for the four band members on stage. A truly magical moment to witness.
After a quick shout-out to Walt Disco, it’s then into a stacked final few songs of the main set, with Drive To Goldenhammer album cuts Fever Pitch and Mercy leading into another new song, the aptly titled for this festive time of year, Christmas.
“I wish this could go on forever!” says Tiger, clearly soaking up every second of the show up on that stage tonight. Sadly with the club curfew drawing near though, it’s into two big hitters to close the main set: Antarctica and Lord.
The thunderous applause starts up again and there’s no way Divorce are leaving Rock City without an encore tonight. The rapturous adulation brings them back to the stage one last time, playing their breakout single Checking Out before closing the night on their ode to social care workers, Hangman.
“This has been the best time of my life!” announces Tiger, as the four band members have a big group hug at the front of the Rock City stage, the crowd loudly applauding them away into the night (…or, more accurately, Rescue Rooms next door.
We couldn’t think of a better way to close out LeftLion’s gig coverage for 2025 than a sold-out Rock City for one of our city’s greatest musical exports in recent years. An incredible moment for Divorce, an amazing night for our music scene, and now we’re just left wondering – who’s going to blow up next? I guess we’ll find out in 2026.
Divorce performed at Rock City on 13th December 2025.
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