Sophie Lloyd rocks Camden in first ever solo show

Sophie Lloyd’s debut solo show at Camden’s iconic Underworld was something a lot of people had been waiting for (especially those in the queue from 15:00!), and it didn’t disappoint. Known for her viral guitar shredding on YouTube, with well over a million subscribers now, and playing alongside Machine Gun Kelly, this gig was a chance for her to show what she could do in her own spotlight. Spoiler: she crushed it.

Before Sophie even hit the stage, the night got off to a strong start with Welsh rocker Chez Kane and her amazing band. If you’re a fan of ‘80s-style rock with big vocals and even bigger energy, you would’ve loved this set. She brought a fun, nostalgic vibe, drawing on influences like Def Leppard and Joan Jett. With songs like "Too Late for Love" and "Rocket on the Radio," she had the crowd buzzing early on. It was the kind of performance that felt like it could’ve been straight out of a different era, and it really got everyone in the mood.

When Sophie finally took the stage, she got a huge reaction from the packed venue. Backed by her fiancé Christopher Painter on drums, along with Adam Darat on bass and Christian Rivers on guitar, she kicked things off with “Battleground,” a heavy instrumental track that showed exactly why she’s gained so much attention as a guitarist. And there was a really sweet moment early on when someone in the crowd shouted, “We love you, Chris!” and his mum responded with, “I love him more!”—that kind of family vibe ran through the whole night.

From there, Sophie moved into “Bulletproof Revolver,” the first song she ever wrote, and it was clear how much this show meant to her. She was really open with the crowd, talking about her journey from recording guitar videos in her bedroom to headlining her own gig. Having her family in the audience, including her uncle who flew in from Australia, made it feel like a big celebration.

Sophie also had some great guest vocalists on hand. Gaz Twist jumped in for a few songs from her album Imposter Syndrome, including "Fall of Man" and "Pressure." He really brought his own flair to the tracks, and the crowd responded well, especially when Sophie launched into her cover of Metallica’s "Enter Sandman" right after. It was one of those moments where everyone in the room joined in, singing the words back to her while she shredded through the iconic riffs. The same happened with her cover of AC/DC’s "Thunderstruck"—the crowd chanting "Thunder" was probably heard all the way down Camden High Street.

One of the night’s standout moments was when Sophie brought out Marisa Rodriguez from Marisa and the Moths. They teamed up for a few songs, including "Runaway" and "Imposter Syndrome," and you could tell these two had a great chemistry on stage. Their back-to-back shredding and vocal harmonies were impressive, and the inflatable guitars flying through the crowd just added to the fun.

What really stood out, though, was Sophie’s honesty with the crowd. She opened up about struggling with performance anxiety in the past, which made performing songs like "Imposter Syndrome" even more powerful. You could tell she’s worked through a lot to get to this point, and it gave the music more depth—like we weren’t just watching a guitarist show off; we were seeing someone push past their own barriers and own the moment.

For those who know Sophie mainly from her YouTube covers, it might have felt like there weren’t enough of them on the setlist, but this show wasn’t about relying on those viral hits. It was about her stepping up as a solo artist, and her original material more than stood up to the covers. Even when she did throw in a Machine Gun Kelly cover, “I Think I’m OKAY,” near the end of the set, it fit in seamlessly.

Sophie proved that she’s not just a YouTube sensation or a guitarist for hire—she’s a fully-fledged artist with a ton of potential. It’s exciting to think about where she’ll go from here, especially after seeing the genuine connection she has with her fans and the pure joy she seems to get from playing live. If this is just the beginning, her future looks bright.