Mallavora at Downstairs at The Dome, London – 7 April 2026

Opening the night at Downstairs at The Dome, Mallavora handled the room well from early on. It’s not always an easy space to start in. People are still arriving, getting settled, and it can take a few songs before the crowd really locks in. They didn’t rush it though. They just got on with it and let things build naturally.

Mallavora are a Bristol-based band who’ve been gaining attention over the past year through a mix of live shows and a steady run of releases. Their recent debut album What If Better Never Comes? has played a big part in that, giving a clearer picture of what they’re aiming for as a band.

It leans into heavier alternative sounds but keeps a strong emotional core, with themes around illness, identity, and personal struggle running through it. There’s a sense of honesty to the writing that carries across both on record and live.

That comes across more clearly live. The set felt controlled without being flat, and they made good use of the space. The heavier sections landed well, but they didn’t overdo it. There was enough variation to keep things interesting, especially as the room slowly filled out.

You could see the shift in the crowd as the set went on. At the start, people were watching casually, but by the middle there was more focus. More people moved forward, and it felt like they’d properly got people’s attention.

A standout moment came when Banshee joined them on stage for their track together. It didn’t feel overplanned or forced, just a natural crossover that the crowd clearly enjoyed. In a room that size, having both artists share the stage added something extra to the set and gave that part of the night a bit more weight.

By the time they finished, the room felt ready. They didn’t try to overstep their role on the lineup, but they did exactly what you’d want from a support band. They set the tone, got people engaged, and left a solid impression going into the rest of the night.