An evening of Americana and blues with Samantha Fish at the O2 Ritz Manchester

Michael Bond
18 hours ago
4 min read

O2 Ritz Manchester - 4th March 2026

WORDS / IMAGES MICHAEL BOND

An evening of Americana and blues with Samantha Fish at the O2 Ritz Manchester — Photo Credit Michael Bond

The crowd tonight is thick with denim, leather, and the familiar hum of anticipation as the O2 Ritz starts to fill up in anticipation for Samantha Fish. The sprung dancefloor ready for another evening of blues-soaked rock from the Grammy nominated Kansas City native, along with support from a band more closer to home.

Before the headline storm arrives, the crowd gets a blast of youthful energy from support act The Zac Schulze Gang. The Kent trio wastes little time making their presence felt. Frontman Zac Schulze plugs in, leans into a gritty riff, and suddenly the venue’s early chatter dissolves into head-nodding grooves. Their sound sits comfortably within the modern British blues revival, with its raw guitar tone, punchy rhythm section, and a delivery that showcases urgency over polish.

Schulze’s playing carries a satisfying garage-rock snarl, with an element of blues muscle sitting behind it. As their songs stretch out just enough to show off a few flashy runs and guitar solos, before snapping back into tight, hooky choruses. The band works the stage confidently, clearly relishing the chance to warm up a room, who are all ready for the blues rock onslaught.

Whats most impressive is their control. One moment they’re stomping through a riff heavy enough to rattle the balcony railings, the next they pull things down to a smoky shuffle that lets Schulze’s vocal rasp take centre stage. The crowd are fully onboard with this, and by the final song there’s a real sense the crowd are making a mental note to check them out later. You can see why this trio have been brought on tour with Samantha, their gritty approach slots in nicely with the headliner’s modern take on blues rock.

By the time Samantha Fish strides on stage the room has developed a buzz and the atmosphere shifts instantly. Dressed in black & animal print and carrying her guitar like a weapon, she opens the night with “Kick Out the Jams.” As she tears into it with an unapologetic intensity. The riff explodes through the sound system, while there is a slight technical issue with her microphone, but she remains unphased and continues anyway as the sound engineer scrambles to fix the issue.

From the outset, the band sounds tight and Fish’s guitar tone slices through the room, thick, biting, and perfectly suited to the Ritz’s acoustics. As she starts building momentum, the crowd let out an all-mighty cheer as the technical issue is fixed and her voice blasts out over the PA. That momentum rolls straight into “Paper Doll,” where the groove settles into a swaggering rhythm. Fish’s voice carries a gritty edge mixed with attitude and soul. As she prowls the stage, trading glances with her bandmates as the song stretches into a playful jam.

The early highlight is “I’m Done Runnin’,” pulsing with defiance, from a blues undertone wrapped in modern rock. Fish leans hard into the chorus, as her guitar snarls between vocal lines. Throughout the night, Fish proves why she has become one of the most compelling live performers in contemporary blues rock. Her playing is both precise and wild, shifting from delicate phrasing then breaking into explosive riffing the next.

Mid-set, the mood shifts as Fish dips deeper into her roots. “Sweet Southern Sounds” rolls out with a laid-back groove that feels almost hypnotic. As the band lock into a tight rhythm, allowing Fish to stretch out with her fluid solos that begin to glide across the beat

After this brief break, the swagger returns with “Bulletproof.” The riff stomps and the chorus lands like a punch. Fish encourages the crowd, who kindly oblige, and you can clearly see her enjoying the energy from the room. A smoky rendition of “Fortune Teller” follows, with its blues groove simmering through the venue. The song feels almost cinematic, as Fish lets the tension build slowly before slicing through it with a solo that screams across the room.

You can see Fish’s deep respect for blues history, but this really emerges during a fierce take on “Poor Mattie,” a cover originally by R. L. Burnside. With the band stripping the arrangement back to a swampy, hypnotic groove. Fish digs into the riff with gritty determination, turning the blues classic into something both faithful and electrifying. This sees the crowd respond enthusiastically, recognising the nod to the genre’s roots. Moments like this, sees Fish bridging multiple generations of blues, honouring tradition while pushing it forward with modern power and her own stamp.

The evenings intensity continues with “Rusty Razor,” a track that cuts through the set like its title suggests. The riff snarls, the drums thunder, and Fish breaks into a blistering solo that earns one of the loudest cheers of the night. Then comes “Don’t Say It,” a moment that really shows off her vocal control. With her delivery softening slightly, drawing the crowd closer before unleashing a sharp guitar break that snaps everyone back to attention.

The calm doesn’t last long though, as the band slams back into gear with “Black Wind Howlin’,” a fan favourite that unleashes a storm of gritty riffs and relentless rhythm. Once again, Fish stalks the stage as the song builds into a furious guitar solo crackling with energy, which leaves the Ritz vibrating.

After a brief exit, the band returns for the encore. Fish steps forward and launches into “Bitch on the Run.” It’s the perfect ending, with its sharp riffs and relentless grooves, seeing Fish throw everything into the performance. Her final solo screeching skyward as the band drives the song to a thunderous finish. As the last chord rings out, the crowd erupts, bringing the night to a close.

Live, Samantha Fish is a force of nature. Her performance tonight is loud, confident, and deeply rooted in blues, while still feeling modern. Tonight’s set has moved effortlessly between swaggering rock, smoky blues grooves and emotionally charged ballads, packed with grit, attitude, and scorching guitar work. The night stands as a reminder that blues rock remains very much alive and thriving.

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