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The Waterfront, Norwich

Monday 13th October 2025

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NEWTON FAULKNER – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

Last month the incomparable Newton Faulkner shared his eighth studio album, ‘Octopus’, and now it’s time for him to take these new songs out on the road. Tonight, at The Waterfront in Norwich is the first date of a new headline tour from the virtuoso.

Much of Faulkner’s recent touring has seen him performing dual sets without any support, but tonight we have not one but two opening acts to get the diligent crowd warmed up.

MARIE NAFFAH

The first of which is London-based songwriter Marie Naffah who is accompanied this evening by her producer Robin Breeze on guitar. The duo are a gentle easement into the evenings festivities and they are able to use their undoubtable abilities to hypnotise the audience.

Their performance is full of songs about love and the likes of ‘For You’ and ‘Gloria’ ensure that their short time on stage is memorable. Naffah tonight is mesmeric with both her charm and her talent, much like an early days Mr. Faulkner.

NATI

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Next up on the stage is a redheaded alt-pop guitarist. Nope, not Newton but NATI., who brings a little bit of chaotic humour and the rousing songwriting of a modern day Newton Faulkner!

Two wise choices as support then and as with Naffah earlier, NATI. is able to very quickly engage the audience and soon has them singing and clapping along. Her brand of songwriting is a lot angrier than Naffah’s and the atmosphere in the venue accordingly ramps up a notch or two.

A fantastic cover of Alanis Morisette’s biting ‘You Oughta Know’, along with the likes of ‘JOAN’ and ‘5 More Minutes’ are delivered with refreshing candour. The sense that the audience wanted more of NATI. as she ends her set was palpable and that’s always a good sign.

NEWTON FAULKNER

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There isn’t long until Newton Faulkner takes the stage. There is little fanfare as Faulkner starts up his set. He isn’t the classic showman musician, but his charisma is ever enchanting. He ultimately lets his music do the talking, but he’s also pretty adept at entertaining the crowd with his wit and musings.

Our two support acts truly did represent and the yin and the yang of what makes Faulkner special and tonight he structures his setlist to gradually escalate in intensity. Starting off with the likes of ‘Gone in the Morning’, ‘Finger Tips’ and ‘I Need Something’, his much-loved cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ then marks an escalation in the set.

The middle section of the set brings more of Faulkner’s signature orchestration of audience participation and some more fan favourites including the obligatory singalong to ‘Dream Catch Me’.

Faulkner’s new album, ‘Octopus’ is his noisiest work yet and the set builds to a crescendo of new music. The final run seeing him deliver ‘You Make It Look So Easy’, ‘What Took You So Long’, ‘Alright Alright Alright’ and ‘Snakes & Ladders’.

The set ends with as little fanfare as it began, Faulkner simply thanking the crowd and that’s that. Tonight, hasn’t been a night of clichéd tropes though, it has been a great evening of organic entertainment centred around songwriters.

Indeed, all three performers have been a delight, and the uniquely talented Faulkner remains as absorbing as ever!