As her new album All On Red hit the top of the Official UK Country Albums Chart this week, Kezia Gill arrived at Islington Assembly Hall with every reason to celebrate. Wednesday 25th February wasn’t a sold-out affair, but the North London venue was comfortably full — and more importantly, completely invested.
Opening with “The Life You Always Dreamed Of”, Gill set the tone for a night that felt both victorious and deeply personal. There was a palpable sense that this was more than just another tour date; it was a marker moment. The crowd knew it, and so did she.
Whiskey-laced anthems like “Dublin’s Outta Whiskey” and “Whiskey Over Ice” brought the early fire, while “Barbed Wire” and “Love You Next” and “Ride or Die” showcased the emotional steel that runs through her songwriting. Gill’s voice remains her greatest weapon — bluesy, commanding and capable of cutting through a full band without losing its raw edge.
Support came from Alyssa Bonagura — but that billing barely tells the full story. Bonagura isn’t just a touring companion; she also produced All On Red, the very record currently sitting at No.1. Her presence on stage therefore felt symbolic as well as musical — a transatlantic creative partnership brought to life in front of a London crowd.
Bonagura’s own set (complemented by fiancé Steve Shirley on lead guitar) was met with warm appreciation, her Nashville polish and effortless delivery winning over the room early. There was an easy chemistry in the air, the sense of two artists aligned not just professionally, but creatively.
Midway through Gill’s headline performance came the night’s emotional core. After a rousing “Ride or Die”, the band stepped off stage, leaving her alone under the lights. The shift was immediate. Acoustic guitar in hand, she stripped the evening back to its bones.
“Local Man’s Star” — her tribute to her father — landed with striking sincerity. In the hush of Assembly Hall, the song felt almost sacred. The celebratory mood of a chart-topping week gave way to something far more intimate, reminding everyone present that behind the accolades is an artist grounded in story, family and lived experience.
And the reason I’m here
Local Man’s Star
The reason I’ll sing
All that I am
I owe to him
The energy surged once more with “This Perfect Night” and “What If”, before Gill delivered a fierce, full-throttle take on Bobbie Gentry’s “Fancy”, stamping her authority all over the Southern classic. It was bold, dramatic and perfectly suited to her blues-infused vocal style.
“Whiskey in a Wine Glass” brought the set to another high point — a reminder of Gill’s ability to balance commercial hook with emotional bite. By this stage, Islington Assembly Hall felt fully surrendered to the moment: midweek fatigue long forgotten, replaced with raised voices and knowing smiles.
With All On Red newly crowned at the top of the UK Country Albums Chart, and with producer and tourmate Alyssa Bonagura playing her part in shaping that success, this show felt like a significant step in Gill’s upward trajectory. Chart positions can signal momentum — but live performances like this confirm staying power.
On Wednesday night in North London, Kezia Gill didn’t just celebrate a No.1 album. She proved exactly why it deserves to be there.
With thanks to DC Brown Live for photography. All photos © DC Brown Live except as indicated in caption
