16 February 2026 (gig)
6 h
What is the best way to uplift spirits on a cold, wet Monday night in February in London? A Nina Nesbitt gig jumps to mind. Not just any Nina gig, though—an Apple Tree Records "Introducing" evening as well.
This was the first live event organized by the label to introduce new and upcoming artists, hand-picked by Nina herself. Four of them were recent winners of Nina’s invitation on social media to be part of the show; the others were artists Nina has worked with, including Tommy, the guitarist in her band.
The Social, in Central London, is a cramped basement venue. The sound for what were mostly acoustic sets was actually better than anticipated given the layout. The viewing areas were limited, with some audience members viewing through doors in a corridor at the back. I actually think Nina did herself a disservice by choosing The Social; she acknowledged that she was unsure how many people would turn out for what was not a "full" Nina Nesbitt gig. The fact that it was a sold-out show is a testament to the demand; a bigger venue is a must for when the next “Introducing” night is held.
Nina opened with her current song, “Seventeen,” a look back at dreaming of what was to come. The Christmas (now Winter) song—“...for the streams!”—"Scotland in the Snow," a lovely homage to her homeland, followed.
Next, we had the new artists, starting with Daisy Brown from Leeds. A great singer with nice control, she performed “Sun Boy”—written when she was 15 and due out as her first release next month—and “Missing Jigsaw Piece,” a song about how much you want a relationship to work.
Jasmine Jethwa, from Croydon, is small in stature but possesses a massive presence and voice. “Ladybird,” her recent release, was a highlight, followed by her new song, “I Believe in Love.” Dedicated to Martha Wainwright, the rockier and upbeat track went down a storm.
A familiar face, Tommy Ashby, was next. He performed three great songs: one about actually liking living in London, another about a best friend growing up in Scotland, and a very bluesy number written on the back of blues nights in pubs with his dad. A nice sing-along chorus and a blues guitar riff earned him great applause to finish.
Then came the amazing Gaelic singer Alice MacMillan, all the way from the Hebrides. Two beautiful songs sung in Gaelic—one over 200 years old—had the audience spellbound.
Kerr Mercer, another Scot and recipient of some huge Nina fandom, came on next. He has an amazing voice, and given that two of the songs were written only in the last few days, his set was a testament to a huge talent. “Alcohol” was a fitting finale to showcase Kerr.
Next was Girl Upstairs, who featured a more mature vocal sound. Having first met Nina when she was 15, her first song, “Over October,” related back to a time when she would hide in the attic. Her song “Casper,” which is about ghosting, is a great catchy pop song that convinced Nina to give her a spot on the bill.
Our last “Introducing” act was Dolder, twins Dani and Zara. They have been writing with Nina for a few years now and came across as very accomplished artists. On keyboard and guitar, they nailed great harmonies and some top-notch songs. “Charlie” was followed by the new single out this Friday, “Sleeping Dogs.” Lastly, “The Motive” started with vocals only, highlighting the girls' range and providing a fitting end to the new talent on show.
Nina returned to close the show, more than thankful to all the artists, to her manager of many years, Vicky, and to the audience for supporting the night. She performed a few more songs, including “Pages,” a favorite from her recent album Mountain Music. A very rare live rendition of “Chewing Gum” sounded amazing in acoustic form. We could not have gone through the night without “The Apple Tree,” always a fan favorite, and she finished with another classic, “The Best You Had.” It was a very apt finale, because we always get the best of Nina, and tonight was no different.
