Brighton Centre – 16 November
With Sofia Camara & Nadia Sheikh

Words and pictures by Sara-Louise Bowrey

Arriving at the Brighton Centre on 16th November, the loyalty of Bastille’s fanbase was impossible to miss. By early evening, fans snaked around the venue — some having queued since 9am, many following multiple dates of the tour.

Among them were the group security jokingly referred to as “the 90,” named for the numbers written on their hands. As soon as doors opened, they were fast-tracked inside and sprinted forward to lock in their barrier spots. It set the tone: this wasn’t just another show — this was a pilgrimage.

Opening Act: Nadia Sheikh

Nadia Sheikh opened the night in a black lace dress with a gothic shimmer that matched her sound — emotive indie pop rock threaded with vulnerability and power. Much of her set came from her EP Done & Dusted, showcasing an artist already comfortable shifting between fragile finger-picked sections and fully-charged rock crescendos.

Her voice — clean, distinct, beautifully controlled — carried effortlessly through the arena.

Mid-set she was joined by Will Farquarson (Bastille) for an intimate, acoustic version of Future Me — a soft, unexpected moment met with warm affection from the crowd.

Sheikh closed with Memories and Shadows — the former quietly reflective, the latter landing with impact. It was a confident, well-etched performance from an artist clearly on the rise.

The Interval That Wasn’t an Interval

As the stage reset, cameras rolled — and Dan Smith appeared out in the crowd, filming for what is rumoured to be a future music video. Even fans who knew to expect it still screamed like it was the first time. Phones shot up, lights blurred across the venue, and a usually slow changeover became a euphoric shared moment.

Sofia Camara

Sofia Camara stepped out with a set built on soaring ballads and cathartic anthems — a voice rich and cinematic, modern yet timeless. From the very first lines of Ingrained, the sing-back from the crowd was full-throated and emotional.

Her interactions between songs felt disarmingly genuine. She laughed at her own habit of repeating thank you and I love you, admitting she needs new ways to express how overwhelmed she is. The sincerity landed.

Halfway through, she paused to take a crowd selfie — hearts held high across the front rows. It felt spontaneous rather than staged, a moment of real connection.

She closed with Who Do I Call Now?, delivered with force and release. With her headline tours already selling out, it’s clear Camara is accelerating fast — bigger rooms are surely waiting.

Bastille – 15 Years In, Still Evolving

Bastille hit the stage to a roar, opening with Things We Lost in the Fire, followed by Shut Off the Lights and Good Grief. The energy was immediate and sharp — full-scale production, huge sound, crowd already at boiling point.

Rather than a chronological look back, this anniversary tour plays like a memory book out of order — flipping pages, revisiting eras, stitching together emotional landmarks rather than timelines.

It works. And more importantly, it feels alive.

A highlight came with new track Save My Soul, which landed like a statement of intent — a hint of where the next chapter may lead. The reaction was instant and loud.

Onstage and in the crowd — connection everywhere

Dan Smith charged across the stage like live wire current, climbing risers, working every corner of the room. The camaraderie between band and audience was constant — eye contact, laughter, moments of shared recognition.

Flaws and Happier triggered two of the biggest singalongs of the night, with the mixtape medley injecting playful chaos and cover fragments for longtime fans to shout back.

As the final stretch arrived, Glory swelled into a unified roar before the opening notes of Pompeii sent the arena into complete, cathartic release. Thousands of voices — one chorus.

Fifteen Years Later — And Still Rolling Forward

Whether you’ve followed Bastille since the beginning or only know the big hits, this show delivered:
electric, emotional, visually full-scale, and deeply human.

Fifteen years in, the legacy is strong — but maybe the most exciting thing is how unfinished it feels. There are still pages left to write.