Hidden from Manchester’s rainy weather, West London’s Gretel enchanted a packed crowd at the Deaf Institute in a stripped-back acoustic set.
At the sound of her opening track, ‘Squish’, Gretel was greeted with enthusiastic whoops and shouts from the front. A sound that would only get louder as she and her right-hand man, Gabe, delivered a masterclass in talent and charm. For an artist typically defined by a loud, raw sound, the stripped-back set gave us the chance to appreciate Gretel’s beautiful vocal range. Think Florence + The Machine, twisted with the edge of Nick Cave. With this opportunity, her lyrics shone as a highlight of her songwriting. Deeply personal, it felt hard not to relate to her tales of self-doubt, drunkenness and complicated families. It was as if everybody in the room was united in a shared catharsis. Tracks like ‘Unbloom’ and ‘Oh Well’ hit harder in this quieter set, as Gretel hypnotised the audience with her ethereal voice.
Beyond her brilliant musicianship, Gretel proved effortlessly charismatic. Charming the audience as she joked about being chronically online and having to stop and tune her guitar. Earning applause and laughter, she thanked listeners for attending and said:
“You guys know an acoustic set is just as good; you’ve got the best taste.”
Continuing with a cover of Tim Buckley’s ‘Dolphins’, the pit swayed together in amazement, even as Gretel joked that Gabe didn’t know the song until that day. The harmonic blend of guitar tones and Gretel’s sweeping vocals reinvented the folk classic.
Gretel announced her last track, ‘Darkness Be My Friend’, earning some mock boos from the front and calls for more across the venue. A standout track, her performance left the crowd standing utterly still.
As the lights flashed on and the disco ball stopped spinning, it was time to leave- reluctantly. Filling out, I was left with the feeling of having witnessed something special in just under an hour’s time. There is no doubt, Gretel is on the path to something great, and Manchester will be waiting eagerly for her return. Hopefully, with better weather.
Support came from MASI MASI
For further updates on tours and music check Gretel’s website