Clwb Ifor Bach hosts a charming triumph from Stella Donnelly
Words: Ciaran Hiscox
Photos: Ffion Megan Owen
★★★★★
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Stella Donnelly kicked off her UK tour at Clwb Ifor Bach, saying she “couldn’t think of anywhere better to start”, and it felt like the perfect choice. Opening with ‘Laying Low’, she immediately set the tone for the evening, a minimalist indie-pop sound paired with candid, emotionally sharp lyricism and a deeply connected vocal performance.
Photo: Ffion Megan Owen
Her personality shone just as brightly between songs as it did within them. As it was the first night of the tour, she humorously compared her newer tracks from Love and Fortune to a “new G-string”, fresh and wearing it in, while likening songs from “Flood” and “Beware of the Dogs” to “old undies, comfortable, but with stains”. It was an endearing moment that perfectly captured her wit, humility and relatability.
The atmosphere throughout felt intimate and communal, with storytelling that resonated with the audience. Tracks like “U Owe Me”, inspired by a former pub boss she worked under, blended humour with biting honesty and worked seamlessly within her stripped-back performance style. Similarly, “Mosquito” balanced a playful anecdote about a vibrator with a deeper emotional undercurrent of longing, showcasing her ability to weave humour into vulnerability.
Photo: Ffion Megan Owen
One of the night’s standout moments came with the “super upbeat and uplifting”, “Die”, where Donnelly’s playful dancing added another layer to her already engaging presence and strengthened her connection with the audience.
She closed the set with the catchy and tongue-in-cheek “Tricks”, taking playful jabs at male hecklers. Before leaving the stage, she also fulfilled an earlier promise by delivering a rendition of “Danny Boy”, bringing a warm and memorable end to a thoroughly enjoyable night.
The gig flew by, leaving me wanting more. Stella Donnelly is an artist I will be eager to see live again, as her sharp lyricism and infectious melodies have firmly earned a place on my playlists.