While She Sleeps – Doncaster Dome, December 11th 2025
- steveharrison35
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
While She Sleeps returning to Doncaster Dome on December 11th felt less like a tour stop and more like a homecoming. Celebrating 20 years as a band, the night carried extra weight given the city’s importance to their story — not least as the hometown of vocalist Loz Taylor. From the moment doors opened, there was a palpable sense that this show meant something special, both for the band and the packed-out crowd.
The evening kicked off with Oversize, unfortunately due to a tardy process of getting in the venue meant that we just managed to catch a couple of songs from their set, but were still
able to feel the atmospheric alternative rock they are renowned for, providing a textured and emotive start to the night.
Unpeople followed, injecting a jolt of raw energy with their snarling riffs and confrontational presence, pushing the crowd closer to boiling point with every track. Their continuing growth and appeal evident from the appreciative crowd, and with a new album in the offing, we expect to see a lot more from them.
Hardcore favourites Guilt Trip were the final support act and arguably the most physically intense of the three. Their uncompromising aggression turned the floor into a chaotic mass of bodies, spin-kicks and circle pits, perfectly priming the audience for what was to come particularly when it came to them smashing out ‘Thin Ice’. For a support slot, their reception was enormous — a clear sign of the impact they are having on the scene.
When While She Sleeps finally took the stage, the reaction was explosive. With a phenomenal epilepsy inducing light show and face melting pyro, they launched into a set that spanned their entire career, the band struck a careful balance between celebrating their roots and showcasing how far they’ve come. Early material landed with visceral force, with a firm early favourite for me and an awesome rendition of ‘Crows’ while newer tracks, like ‘Self Hell’ and’ To The Flowers’ demonstrated a band still evolving, still hungry, and still capable of commanding huge rooms.
The inevitable chants of ‘Yorkshire, Yorkshire’ brought smiles to those captivated faces and straight into ‘You Are We’
Dropping in to perform on ‘This Is The Six’ was original Sleeps singer Jordan Widdowson and stunning performances continued.
Loz Taylor, visibly emotional at points, spoke candidly about Doncaster’s influence on the band — the venues, the people, and the community that supported them long before international tours and festival headlines. 'Donny is where it all started for me..if it wasn't for Donny's music scene and the people that supported this band.....we would not be stood on this stage right now.....Doncaster I owe you so much!'
Those moments of reflection only heightened the impact when the band tore back into tracks like 'Hurricane' and ' Silence Speaks', each breakdown met with deafening singalongs and a flurry of crowdsurfers!.
The band were as tight as ever. Guitarists Sean Long and Mat Welsh delivered crushing riffs and soaring melodies in equal measure, with Seans familiar wailing wahwah piercing through with precision! Despite the scale of the celebration, the performance never felt polished to the point of detachment — it retained the grit and authenticity that first put While She Sleeps on the map. This was a performance that was worthy of festival greatness and recognition.
Closing out the night in front of their home crowd, it was clear this wasn’t just an anniversary show — it was a tip of the hat to 'Donny'. With Loz announcing 'You don't know how special tonight is.....in the coming months, everything is going to become that little bit clearer'
A celebration of 20 years built on community, perseverance, and an unbreakable connection between band and fans. For those in attendance, it was more than a gig; it was a reminder of why While She Sleeps continue to matter, and why their hometown will always be a part of who they are.
 Review by Steve Harrison