A calm lull settled over the echoing walls of a secret church in Norwich, moments before a surge of excitement rippled through the room as Divorce took the stage. On the final stretch of their tour, the band found themselves at the Norwich Arts Centre, a deconstructed medieval church whose stone arches and soft candlelit ambience created an atmosphere both intimate and thrilling. The setting couldn’t have suited them better. Much like a bible belt preacher commanding his congregation, the band held their audience with an authority that felt both electric and effortless.
From the moment lead vocalists Tiger and Felix stepped up to the stage, the room seemed to open around them. Their harmonies which were raw and filled with the band’s signature emotional grit, moved between older favourites and new material with a confidence that signalled just how much they’ve grown since their last performance last year at Norwich’s Waterfront. Each line was delivered with purpose, each response from the crowd came with awe and exhilaration.
Throughout the night, Divorce maintained a magnetic stage presence powered by their gift for storytelling. Tiger Cohen-Towell, joint lead singer and bassist, was particularly compelling. Though small in stature, she embodied her namesake, prowling the stage with purpose. There was a sense of ritual in the way she moved, controlled yet wild. The audience watched, transfixed, drawn into the emotion of every movement.
As the main set came to a close, the band slipped offstage with quiet composure, leaving behind a room humming with anticipation. The applause didn’t disappear, it built. And just when the crowd’s longing became palpable, Divorce returned for an encore that reignited the space with even more atmosphere than before. “Checking Out” and “Hangman,” their two most beloved tracks, sent the venue into a final, euphoric feeling, a perfect closing chapter to an already unforgettable performance.
This was the performance of a band fully stepping into their moment, asserting themselves as one of the most exciting acts currently rising through the UK scene. Norwich was lucky to witness them, not in a festival field or arena, but within the intimate, echoing walls of a repurposed church, where every lyric, every breath, and every roar felt close enough to touch. Coming away from the performance you felt full of energy, yet fulfilled with a sense of satisfaction from such an incredible band.
Lydia is a presenter, musician and journalist. She specialises in interviewing and music journalism.
