Brooke Combe Proves She’s the Real Deal at Gorilla Manchester
- Luke Storey
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Gorrila , Manchester - 9th April 2026
WORDS / IMAGES LUKE STOREY (ShotbyStorey)
Gorilla makes a gig feel immediate — like you’re part of it rather than just watching from the sidelines. Tucked beneath the railway arches, the venue hums with a kind of industrial intimacy: low ceilings, sweat-in-the-air acoustics, and a crowd that feels close enough to touch the stage. Tonight, that closeness worked it's magic.
If you’ve been paying attention, Brooke Combe has been quietly carving out her own lane — a soul-pop revivalist in a scene still largely dominated by jangly indie bands. Hailing from Scotland, she’s often praised for her voice, but live is where that reputation really finds its footing. And tonight, stepping onto Gorilla’s compact stage, it felt less like a rising artist proving a point and more like someone fully stepping into their moment.
Support came from Muireann Bradley, the young Irish guitarist whose stripped-back set set the tone perfectly. Armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar and a voice that carried both fragility and control, her folk-blues blend filled the room with a quiet intensity. It was simple, yes — but never lacking. Every note landed, every lyric hung in the air just long enough. The kind of set that forces a room to listen.
Then came Combe — and the shift was immediate. From the first note, she owned the stage with a restless energy, constantly in motion, tambourine in hand, pulling the crowd in. Her voice, rich and steeped in soul, cut clean through Gorilla’s tight acoustics, backed by a tight six-piece band that added serious depth — basslines that grooved, keys that shimmered, even bongos adding unexpected texture.
Between songs, she kept things loose — cracking jokes, chatting to the crowd, making the whole room feel like it was in on something. A standout moment came with her cover of “You’re Losing Me” by Barbara Lynn, which had the audience swaying and singing back in unison.
And then there was “L.M.T.F.A (Leave Me The F*** Alone)”, where she singled out a guy in the audience — a fan from her earlier, more stripped-back days — turning the performance into something playful and personal; nothing felt rehearsed, everything felt real.
By the time the encore rolled around — “The Last Time” followed by “How Could I Love You More” — the room was fully hers. Voices rose, arms swayed, and for a moment, Gorilla felt bigger than it is.
This wasn’t the show of a one-hit wonder. It was the sound of an artist expanding, experimenting, and, crucially, connecting. An overall stunning night — and for many in that room, a proper introduction to the pull of modern soul-pop done right.
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