By Andras Paul, Rock At Night London
Review: Nadia Sheikh -The Water Rats – London, February 12, 2026
I arrived slightly late but just in time to catch Nadia Sheikh leaping onto the stage with infectious energy—sadly missing the support acts in the process. The London-based indie/pop/rock artist, backed by her longtime bandmates Rowan Davies on bass and George Gardiner on drums, is already a familiar name among regular gig-goers in the city. But tonight’s crowd proved her reach goes far beyond the capital: fans had traveled from across the country to witness what felt like a milestone moment—her long-awaited headline show at the iconic Water Rats.
She kicked things off with “The Shadows,” instantly igniting the legendary venue’s intimate stage, before seamlessly transitioning into “Waiting.” A brief, teasing prologue hinted at the treats ahead, setting an electric tone for the night.
“Thank you for joining us on this wet Thursday evening,” Nadia said warmly, greeting the audience with her signature approachable charm that made the rainy February night feel anything but dreary.
New material soon arrived in the form of “Fade Away”—an unreleased track that ardent fans can already stream on her Patreon. Written very much with live performance in mind, it’s a louder, stompier addition to her eclectic repertoire, packed with catchy riffs that had the room bouncing.
This was followed by “Love is Undefined,” an earlier passion project carrying a deeply heartbreaking message, delivered with raw emotional power and yet another standout vocal performance.
Throughout the set, Nadia paused for breath between songs, her inviting sweetness guiding the evening with effortless grace. She treated the venue like a second home, commanding the audience with genuine spirit and an almost old-school sense of responsibility toward her fans. Her velvety voice blended perfectly with sharp wit and a cool mix of soft vulnerability and tough edge—she’s unafraid to bare her soul one moment and then launch into a fast-paced rocker the next, keeping the energy dynamic and unpredictable.
A highlight came with a guest duet featuring a talented friend on guitar (whose name I unfortunately missed), whose passionate playing complemented her perfectly and added extra fire to the performance. The crowd whooped and clapped throughout, fully locked in.
After the set wrapped, unified chants of “One more song!” brought Nadia back for a flawless encore. She returned with flourishing elegance, delivering one final seamless triumph that left everyone buzzing.
As a British/Spanish artist, Nadia’s songs have already found their way onto screens, featuring in shows like Love Island and the Hallmark movie Twelve Dates Till Christmas. But seeing her live—especially in this headline setting—shows why her blend of meaningful songwriting, sticky choruses, and magnetic stage presence is building such a dedicated following. This was a night that felt like the start of something even bigger.
If you get the chance, catch her next time—you won’t want to miss it.
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Andras Paul came from a traditional art background back in Hungary. He studied drawing, painting and animation and later began his interest in photography too.
Open to any kind of gig with decent music-- let it be a big concert or the smallest darkest pub on earth.
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