Jo Quail / The Bodega / Nottingham
Jo Quail is a virtuoso, classically trained cellist and composer from London, UK. A classical composer, but perhaps best known for her solo performances with cello and looper effect pedals.
The first time I came across Jo, was early in 2025, when I saw Scandinavian pagan folk legends Wardruna at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. In support, standing alone on a huge stage with her skeleton frame cello, I wasn’t prepared for what hit me…. An incredible, complex sonic soundscape on a cinematic scale.
So when I saw Jo was headlining in Nottingham I had to come along.
Nottingham’s intimate Bodega is impressively full tonight with a wide range of ages present. Along with a smattering of metal battle jackets. There’s no support tonight so we enjoy a slightly extended set from Jo who takes to the stage elegantly dressed. The stage is simply decorated. A large JQ logo projected onto the wall behind her. And fairy lights either side of the stage.
Jo at work is quite an experience. Each track is meticulously constructed and it’s an incredible process to watch. A simple sharp stroke on the cello of a bass note, becomes a thunderous background, notes and layers are added, with vocal harmonies, building complex layers of sound that fill the room. Over this a main lead section is played live. Its mesmerising and can be loud, brash and harsh, or soft and delicate in form.
The opening track White Salt Stag is very much the former with an almost tribal feel to it, almost hypnotic in parts like an ancient mantra. This flows into Gold from 2016’s “Five Incantations”. A more mellow track, very reminiscent of the pagan folk of artists such as Wardruna and Heilung.
Much of the set is focused on her latest album, out only recently “Notan” (which I can highly recommend !) and next up is Butterfly Dance. Dry ice pumps out creating a magical environment, and the track starts to build. Probably my favourite on the new album, it is equally amazing in a live setting. Loud taps on the cello body ring through the mix, and its dominated by heavily effect laden long slow draws on bass notes on the cello (think the sound before the words ‘I Am Iron Man’). Its haunting and eerie in the exteme, packed with tension and menace.
Next up is Embrace returning to a softer, more mellow sentiment, with it’s themes of connections between living things. A more conventional cello sound floats over the layers of tones, creating something magical and other worldly.
The we are introduced to Jo’s old friend Ferdinand, who was born in 1820. Of course Ferdinand is a traditional wooden bodied cello and she sits to deliver two tracks back to back in A Leaf, and then a Key (from Notan 2025) and Supplication from the same titled 2023 EP).
Performed without loops, Ferdinand is the real star here demonstrating its power and versatility. In particular A Leaf, and then a Key is stunning a breathtaking orchestral solo performance packed with intricate nuances, short sharp fast sections, rolling into slow drawn out mellow segments. Simply amazing.
Elia’s Song is a tender and soft piece, composed for her daughter, while KingFisher (another track from “Notan”) is like a winding eleven minute long prog-rock beast of a track, but it doesn’t feel long, and it does an incredible job of maintaining your interest throughout, although it ends abruptly when Jo admits she pressed to end it instead of restart the loop lol.
The performance ends with Mandrel Cantus a track from 2018’s “Exsolve” record. A cantus is from the latin “cantus firmus” or ‘fixed song’ a melody constructed form one than one independent voice or part. Based on a series of body tapping sounds, the layers are built on top with heavy effects laden bass tones and more delicate long drawn high tone sounds. As it continues, it builds and intensifies becoming louder and fuller…. And more powerful, some of the tones almost electric guitar in nature.
Beautiful, mesmerising, heavy, delicate, ancient and modern….. Jo Quail’s music has something for everyone. Less of a gig, more an experience, that wraps you in sonic beauty.
Setlist
White Salt Stag (Five Incantations 2016)
Gold (Five Incantations 2016)
Butterfly Dance (Notan 2025)
Embrace (Notan 2025)
A Leaf, and Then a Key (On acoustic cello) (Notan 2025)
Supplication (On acoustic cello) (Supplication EP 2023)
Rex (Notan 2025)
Eila’s Song (Caldera (2014)
KingFisher (Notan 2025)
Encore
Mandrel Cantus (Exsolve 2018)
