LIVE REVIEW & GALLERY: Sleeping With Sirens @ The Waterfront, Norwich

March 18th 2023

Support from Charming Liars and Static Dress

It was a full house on Saturday night when Post hardcore band Sleeping With Sirens from Orlando, Florida, headlined at the humble venue of The Waterfront in Norwich supported by Charming Liars and Static dress.

There was definitely a buzz of excitement in the air as fans eagerly awaited a night of alternative music. Charming Liars kicked off the evening perfectly. The trio, originally from London, brought the energy up at the start of the evening. This was the first time the band had been back in Norwich since 2019, when they performed at Epic Studios. Lead singer Kiliyan Maguire reached out and engaged with the crowd who were enjoying every bit of it. A mixture of alt and indie, this band was the perfect way to start the night.

Next up was Leeds based band Static Dress, who definitely contrasted with the Mamma Mia soundtrack which was playing at top volume between the sets. Old 90’s style TVs lit up the stage as the crowd buzzed with anticipation. The energy was off the scales from the very start. Lead Vocalist Olli Appleyard bounced across the stage in an eye catching statement body piece by designer Lena M Áine. The energy continued throughout the performance, and lead singer Olli encouraged circled pits amongst the crowd.

Finally, the moment fans were waiting for. Drummer Matty of Sleeping With Sirens first approached the stage to a roaring crowd and played a short drum solo before the rest of the band graced the stage. It was clear that this performance was long awaited by many fans who were pushing to get to the barrier. “There’s so much energy in this room tonight” lead singer Kellin Quinn said to the excited crowd. Playing a mixture of old and new music, the band certainly kept the crowd engaged.

The subject of mental health was touched on throughout the performance, with Kellin shouting “Let’s say fuck you to the thoughts in your head!” before playing their song ‘Better Off Dead’ from their 2015 album ‘Madness’. Towards the end of the evening the acoustic guitar made an appearance. The band performed their acoustic version of ‘With Ears To See and Eyes To Hear’ which had the crowd singing along to the chorus. Fans also belted out the lyrics to ‘Iris’ which the band originally covered in 2012. Lead singer Kellin was left stunned by the crowd participation and as the music stopped the crowd continued to sing from the top of their lungs.

After leaving the stage, the band came back for the expected encore and played possibly their biggest hit ‘If You Can’t Hang’. This was certainly a way to end the evening with a bang and fans danced around to this well known tune.

Can we expect this Florida band back in quaint Norwich anytime soon? Most likely, as singer Kellin hinted multiple times at returning here soon. Keep your eyes peeled!