Morrissey once quipped "Manchester, so much to answer for…" during the heyday of seminal indie trailblazers, The Smiths. The same could be said of another scene pioneered in the North West: Northern Soul. More than 50 years after sparking into life at its cultural home, the Wigan Casino, thanks to the long lost Tamla Motown and soul tracks unearthed and spun following visits across the pond, the roots of the much-revered movement still spread to this day. Brooke Combe is keeping the trend growing..,
Watching the complete antithesis of support act, the demure yet upbeat Abbie Piper, it was difficult not to be blown away by the sheer stage presence of a performer still in the fledgling years of her career. A great choice to open the show.
After the support set, and as a smattering of sta-prest jeans, Fred Perry polo shirts and Keep The Faith badge-embossed bags sprinkled the audience, the Midlothian 26-year-old Brooke Combe took to the stage and had everyone - young and old, veteran soulheads and newcomers alike - in the palm of her energetic hands from the get go.
Surfing on the back of the media acclaim and plaudits dished out by tastemakers including 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, Combe is that rare solo artist who blends great writing, effortless charisma with natural stagecraft and aplomb... plus, her chat or patter (she’s quick to point out Scotland's forte following one cheeky Notts-esque heckle) is on point throughout. During a yarn about her last appearance here at a Rough Trade in-store, she mirthfully tells us that this coincided with the "worst s***s of my life!". Then, she regales us about her exasperation at finding her way around the many corridors and stairs of this venue. That causes many guffaws - "Rescue Rooms, escape rooms more like!"
Thankfully, the music comfortably exceeds the bants, too. L.M.T.F.A, a caustic lament on being left "the f**k alone", is deliciously sharp and withering, while the four-to-the-floor beats of This Town is a joyous slice of ‘70s-inspired soul which would land as well in a post-gig student night as it would have done in The Twisted Wheel.
Combe's current single, Tears Won't Lie, soars and tears through the audience thanks to the excellent backing of her five-piece band. Hats off to the merch team for the freebie single-promoted tissues, too. Are You With Me? tips a hat to early Adele at her rally-calling best, while a retro cover of Barbara Lynn’s soul survivor, You’re Losing Me, picks up brownie points from the ardent following on the front few rows ably orchestrated by guitarist Danny Murphy.
It’s How Can I Tell You? (To Love Me More) which is the golden goose in the musical flock, though, with its barnstorming melodies lapped up by the masses.
Combe is a real, vital new talent. It wouldn’t surprise me if Rock City comes calling the next time this effervescent (and brilliantly sweary) Scot lands back in Nottingham.
Brooke Combe performed at Rescue Rooms on 15th April 2026.
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