Violet Grohl Thekla Bristol 4/10/2026
The boat that rocks (Thekla) played host to Violet Grohl as she celebrated her debut album, Be Sweet to Me, with her first Bristol headline show. Having already sold out several grassroots venues across the UK, anticipation was understandably high.
The album had been looping around my ears for days beforehand. I was curious to discover what an upbringing immersed in rock 'n' roll sounded like in a live setting, and whether there might be some rough edges beneath the surface of such a refined and vibrant debut record. The unknown was the attraction. I was there for the music.
Opening the evening was Bekah Bossard.
Being the support act on a highly anticipated tour must be daunting. There are always questions. Will people stay at the bar? Will conversations drown out the songs? In Bristol, none of that happened. Thekla filled early, and the crowd gave Bekah the respect she deserved.
Standing centre stage with a beaming smile, she admitted how much the opportunity meant to her and openly expressed her admiration for Violet's talent. She then made a bold statement by performing songs that were only receiving their second live outing. That took real courage. Rather than feeling like a sink-or-swim moment, it felt as though Bristol was collectively lifting up a rising artist who deserved the spotlight.
Mothers by July perfectly encapsulated Bekah's sound: a vulnerable and beautifully written exploration of complicated queer love and motherhood. It was a set that left me wanting more, as audience members headed straight to the merch stand afterwards to spend time with her and discover her music further.
As Violet Grohl stepped onto the stage of Bristol's legendary floating venue, the energy shifted. Positioned close enough to witness every expression, it was impossible not to see what the audience's adoration meant to her. Like her support act, she balanced deeply personal and often heavy material with genuine, appreciative smiles throughout the evening. The magic of Thekla was clearly not lost on her.
The setlist was expertly assembled, deploying some of the debut album's most powerful moments right from the start.
Cool Buzz had already lodged itself firmly in my head the first time I heard it. Live, it sounded every bit as huge as I had hoped. A fierce, crunchy and irresistibly catchy anthem tackling female exclusion within the music industry, it steadily built into a soaring, expansive jam that filled every corner of the venue.
My standout moment of the night was Applefish. On record, it had drifted past me somewhat. Live, it completely consumed me. Not every performer needs to thrash around the stage to command attention, and Violet proved exactly why. She was poise personified, maintaining complete vocal control while shimmering, looping guitar lines floated around the room beneath miniature violet laser lights.
Her voice sounded velvety, tender and impossibly beautiful. There was something refreshing about simply standing still and listening. Then, just as she had the room entirely in the palm of her hand, the song exploded into powerful surges of crashing guitars that felt immense without ever overwhelming the melody.
595 arrived, carrying heavy, bullet-like drumming before collapsing into an intense and brilliantly executed breakdown.
Set closer Plastic Couch followed a similar emotional trajectory to Applefish, pairing gorgeous harmonies with escalating waves of instrumentation. I could hear echoes of Queens of the Stone Age throughout, and I mean that as a compliment. The track eventually crashed through the venue in a tidal wave of drums and guitar solos, bringing the night to an emphatic conclusion.
As the final notes faded, fans who had been singing every word rushed to the front in search of setlists and souvenirs. By that point, I completely understood why.
Big name. Small venue. No problem.
Talent beats media hype every time.
Words and Pics by Matt Barnes
