The Last Dinner Party at O2 City Hall, Newcastle – 20/11/25
- Emilie Shaw
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Some gigs feel like a night out, but The Last Dinner Party felt like theatre. The room was filled of people of all ages and genders, excitement overflowing in the last 30 minutes before the headline set.
The preshow playlist (an art form itself, in my opinion) opened with the shrilling violins of Rosalia’s ‘Berghain’ as I took in the stage set up: white draping curtains, marble arches, castle bells and bushes. I’m always excited to see how an artist will transform my favourite venue into their own. It was plain to see that every element of this show was designed to be an experience. Despite being unfamiliar with the band myself, I awaited their entrance in great anticipation. You could see the excitement on every person’s face.
The Last Dinner Party came on stage to a delighted crowd, opening with ‘Agnus Dei’. Frontwoman Abigail Morris made a grand entrance dressed in red velvet, captivating myself and the audience with her theatrical vocals. Her voice was versatile –able to reach shrilling high notes and sultry, deeper tones in a single song. She expressed wonderful musicality with every movement across the stage, supported by the seamless instrumentation of her band members. Much to the delight of the crowd, the band played fan favourite ‘The Feminine Urge’, which featured guitar melodies and percussion full of rage.
After playing a fantastic opening run of tracks, the energy was dialled back for ‘Second Best’, where every member came together centre stage under a single spotlight to perform angelic choir vocals. ‘Stunned’ would be an understatement. Here, it was clear this show was crafted to guide the audience through their discography like it were a storybook, not just to get through the setlist.
Following, Aurora Nishevci, who had previously remained at the piano, performed the captivating ballad ‘I Hold Your Anger’, a moment that felt straight out of a musical – when the seemingly background character comes forward to let out all their emotions in song. The Last Dinner Party isn’t a band defined by just their frontwoman, instead their strength lies in every single member who were spotlighted during the show. This moment from Nishevci was something I had never witnessed before and a true highlight of the show.
Next came a rendition of ‘Woman Is a Tree’, where the band united to perform a chorus of wailing, whimsical folk vocals. It oddly reminded me of 2019’s ‘Midsommar’, a folk horror film which chronicles the breakdown of a woman’s psyche triggered by grief. This use of folk by the band didn’t feel flippant – it was intentional and simply beautiful. Then, Aurora Nishevci was back on vocals for ‘Gjuha’, a haunting song about her internal shame of not knowing her mother tongue Albanian. It was a beautiful celebration of her heritage with an important message that truly struck me.
The tone shifted once more from whimsical folk to full-blown rock with ‘Big Dog’, a song I was disappointed to learn is unreleased detailing the attitudes of entitled men. It was equal parts humorous and serious and as a rock fan, I found Morris’ harder vocals exhilarating. The band then created a lovely audience interaction, honouring a fan’s request to play ‘Portrait of a Dead Girl.’
It was fantastic to see the crowd united over their love for a song. Abigail Morris then sat beneath a single spotlight for ‘Sail Away’, a relaxed piano ballad with poignant lyrics detailing a failed relationship that further demonstrates her vocal range. This was the first time I had heard this song, and I fell in love with it. It immediately became a staple on my playlist.
Finally, the band played an energetic closing run of their iconic hits ‘Sinner’ and ‘Nothing Matters’. The crowd, loud and passionate, enjoyed every moment and chanted for an encore. Moments later, the band returned in a choreographed entrance to perform ‘This is the Killer Speaking’, featuring an audience interaction where Morris taught the crowd a dance. After a monumental set, the band left the stage, and the lights came up.
Afterwards, my ears ringing, I felt as though The Last Dinner Party had not just created a gig, but an experience. Every decision felt intentional – the preshow playlist, the set design, the lighting, the order of the setlist. I spent the whole show captivated by every member and what they brought to the table - beautiful vocals and seamless instrumentation.
Every member got their time to shine. I came away from this show finally understanding who The Last Dinner Party are, artists with a clear creative direction who truly care about their live performances. I will be keeping up with them moving forward and I would love to see them perform again.
Article By Emilie Shaw, Photography By Sam Wall
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