CHLOE MORIONDO: LEEDS, UK
Chloe Moriondo with support from Yuneki
at The Key Club in Leeds, UK
words by Kayla Kerridge
For the first time in three years, Chloe Moriondo has returned to UK shores , and Leeds was ready. The Key Club was bursting with energy on a Wednesday night as fans crammed into the basement venue, eager to celebrate not just Chloe’s long-awaited presence but two albums that had never fully been toured here: 2022’s SUCKERPUNCH and her latest release Oyster. What followed was a show that felt equal parts intimate gig and immersive oceanic party, complete with crashing waves of emotion, splashes of humor, and the kind of crowd participation that makes live music unforgettable.
The night opened with Cambridge-based singer-songwriter Yuneki, who wasted no time in winning over the Leeds audience. Performing songs from both her debut album and her new EP Baby Teeth, released earlier this month, Yuneki’s set was a masterclass in vulnerability. Tracks like ‘Like Honey’ and ‘Sleepwalking’ showcased her knack for heartfelt lyricism, while the title track ‘Baby Teeth' held the crowd in a hush. Her closing number, ‘When Will This Body Be Mine’, shifted gears entirely , encouraging the crowd to shake off their shyness, let loose, and jump. It was the perfect warm-up for what was to come, blending rawness with a playful spark that mirrored Chloe’s own approach to music.
As the house playlist faded and the stage lights dimmed, a countdown appeared on the screen behind the stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Oceanic imagery soon flooded the backdrop , jellyfish drifting, waves rolling , pulling the audience into Chloe’s world before she had even stepped onstage. When she finally emerged, opening with ‘abyss’ from Oyster, the room instantly transformed. Her voice was sharp yet fluid, cutting through the heavy bass and drawing the crowd into a collective sway.
From there, Chloe wasted no time diving into older material. ‘Celebrity’, ‘Bodybag’, and ‘Plastic Purse’ were met with raucous cheers, each song serving as a reminder of her versatility: biting satire one moment, aching honesty the next. Introducing her bandmates , bassist Curly and drummer Fiona, Chloe radiated gratitude, setting the tone for a night built on connection as much as performance.
The set’s momentum only grew with ‘hate it’ and ‘Take Your Time’, both fan favourites that turned The Key Club into a choir pit. The crowd wasn’t just singing along , they were shouting, throwing every ounce of energy back at the stage.
When Chloe launched into catch, ‘Cdbaby<3’, and ‘DRESSUP’, the venue practically lifted. Yet amid the chaos, she paused for reflection. Sharing that ‘7seas’ had become her current favourite to perform, Chloe opened up about the themes of vulnerability coursing through Oyster. This moment of intimacy segued into a string of slower, deeply affecting tracks , ‘shoreline’, ‘use’, and ‘pond’ , songs that carried an almost confessional weight. In these quiet moments, Chloe held the room still, proving her ability to command silence just as powerfully as noise.
The energy picked back up with ‘Manta Rays’, the venue bathed in shifting pink and blue lights that mimicked the ocean depths. Then came one of the night’s highlights: a shimmering, heartfelt cover of Mitski’s ‘Liquid Smooth’. Chloe made the song her own, breathing new life into it while keeping its aching vulnerability intact.
With the crowd already euphoric, Chloe teased the final stretch. Launching into Oyster’s title track before her new single ‘girl with gills’, she turned the venue into what felt like a submerged nightclub. Before starting, she cheekily instructed everyone to imagine they were “in Atlantis, where the mermaids and merfolk are shaking ass.” Leeds didn’t need to be told twice , the floor erupted, bodies moving as if swept along by a tidal wave.
Disappearing briefly, Chloe returned for an encore that left the room buzzing. First came ‘Fruity’, a highlight from SUCKERPUNCH that reignited the crowd’s energy. She closed with ‘I Want To Be With You’, a song that seemed to perfectly encapsulate the night’s spirit: joy, gratitude, and community. As she thanked the crowd one final time, the venue still pulsed with colour and warmth , a tangible reminder of just how much her music has been missed on this side of the Atlantic.
Chloe Moriondo’s Leeds return wasn’t just a gig , it was a celebration. A celebration of her growth as an artist, of the connection between her and her fans, and of the cathartic power of live music. Blending humour with heartfelt storytelling, and chaos with vulnerability, Chloe created a space that was both safe and electric. As fans spilled out onto the Leeds streets afterwards, still humming the choruses and glowing from the experience, one thing was certain: Chloe’s underwater party is one the UK has been waiting for, and one it won’t forget anytime soon.