Saturday 13th December, Exeter — There’s something about the Cavern that invites intimacy. Maybe it’s the low ceiling, the sticky floors, or the way the stage feels like it’s part of the crowd. Whatever it is, it was the perfect setting for a night that felt personal, celebratory, and quietly historic — the 100th show from the Miki Berenyi Trio.
We arrived as the doors opened, catching a moment with Miki herself — ever generous with her time offstage, chatting with fans like old friends. Then it was straight to the front for the evening’s support: Bath/Bristol dream-pop outfit Night Swimming, making their Devon debut.
Described as dream-pop with shades of shoegaze and trip-hop, Night Swimming cite Cocteau Twins and Slowdive among their influences — and it shows. Their set was a swirl of atmosphere and emotion, anchored by frontwoman Meg’s striking vocals. Strong yet vulnerable, her voice cut through the haze of reverb and delay like a beam of light.
Though they started with just a handful of people watching, by the end they’d drawn a crowd — a mix of ages, all visibly moved. It was the kind of set that felt like a discovery, the kind you hope to stumble upon in a dark venue on a cold night. With the 4 new tracks showcased this evening, I look forward to a new release, I even tried to tease something out of the band, but they remained tight-lipped!
Set List:
Nothing Safe is Technicolour
In The Real World
Warmer
Omission
Submarine
Dark Clouds
Let That Be Enough
Poison Berry
Five Year Plan
After a quick pause and a cider run (more on that later), it was time for the main event. The trio — Miki Berenyi, Kevin “Moose” McKillop, and Oliver “Ollie” Cherer — took to the stage with Miki front and centre, wielding her trademark 12-string guitar.
This wasn’t just another gig. It was their 100th show, a milestone that Miki marked with warmth and humour, noting that Moose still had a few stripes to earn. Not bad for a band originally formed to accompany her book tour (Finger’s Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success).
The set was a generous 17 tracks, heavy on material from their debut album Tripla, released earlier this year, and peppered with Lush classics that blended seamlessly. Ollie’s backing vocals added new texture, and Moose’s guitar work was, as ever, impeccable.
There’s a clear bond between Miki and the South West — maybe it’s the cider, which she happily accepted from an audience member, joking it was better than anything in London. Ollie looked momentarily concerned as she downed a generous swig, but the trio powered through, finishing the night with style and spirit.
Set List:
Doldrum Days
Hurricane
A Different Girl
Undertow
Leaves Me Cold
Gango
Kinch
Manu
8th Deadly Sin
Vertigo
For Love
Ubique
Big I Am
Lady-Killers
Stray
Light from a Dead Star
Stranger
Here’s to the next 100 shows.
Words and Pictures by Andy Gerry
