AS IT IS: NORWICH, UK
As It Is with support from Greywind
at Waterfront in Norwich, UK - 09/09/2026
words and photos by Mel Tumber
British-American pop-punk/rock band As It Is took their ‘So A-Live!’ tour to Norwich’s Waterfront on September 8th, accompanied by Irish band Greywind. Fulfilling their promise to play songs both old and new, this tour is a love letter to fans from every era of As It Is.
The night started off with emo band Greywind, lead singer Steph clad in a beautiful white dress adorned with red ribbons and gloves, making her stand out wonderfully. The band’s energy was undeniable, with Steph leaning into the crowd on multiple occasions and singing to fans directly, creating a very personal, unforgettable moment. A fan outside who really enjoyed Greywind already was one of the people involved in this, and the smile on their face while singing along with Steph was absolutely lovely to see.
For those in the crowd who didn’t already know Greywind, they played popular songs - opening the set with ‘Swing and Sway’, featuring crunchy guitar riffs and impressively high belts from Steph. Another on the setlist was ‘Moon’, which is reminiscent of Paramore’s third studio album ‘Brand New Eyes’.
As It Is’ guitarist and secondary vocalist, Ben Langford-Biss, was watching from the side of the stage - it’s always a lovely sight to see headlining bands being appreciative and supportive of their openers, and it was evident that he was having a blast.
Finishing the setlist with ‘Waterfall’, a catchy rock song that is once again accentuated by Steph’s powerfully high notes and booming drums, Greywind left the stage with smiles on their faces and a hugely impressed crowd.
When it was time for As It Is to take the stage, the crowd was humming with anticipation, and the noise grew to a united cry of excitement as the band appeared, instantly launching into ‘I’m So Alive!’, the song that the tour name was based on. The crowd, full of people of all ages, was instantly moving, and there were many mosh pits throughout the night. The aforementioned fans were absolutely lovely to speak to, and the entire atmosphere of the show was a completely welcoming and safe one.
Following the first song, a multitude of songs from older and newer As It Is albums were played, including three ‘wildcards’ - songs that either were released early on in their life as a band, or that they haven’t played live much before. For the Norwich show, these songs were ‘Horoscopes’, ‘Balloons’ and ‘The Haunting’ - all of which excited the crowd greatly.
During ‘The Wounded World’, the band has a tradition where guitarist Ben opens a bit during the bridge of the song and plays the guitar solo while fans mosh around him. Being in this pit was a complete rush of energy and sums up exactly how an As It Is show feels.
When speaking to him after the show, the band’s drummer, Patrick Foley (more commonly known as ‘Foley’), joked that this review should be incredibly negative, but that would be impossible. The performance was absolutely brilliant, and the fact that the band members stayed behind to talk to every single fan at the merch stand is enough to prove how much they care and want to make the show feel like a safe space. This show was a true pleasure to attend, and As It Is and Greywind will be continuing this tour across the UK until September 23rd.
GREYWIND
AS IT IS
