Samantha Fish | Zac Schulze Gang
O2 Ritz, Manchester
4th March 2026
Grammy-nominated blues-rock powerhouse Samantha Fish brings the Paper Doll Live World Tour to a sold-out night at the O2 Ritz Manchester. Claire Glover and Melanie Smith went along to see what all the fuss was about, and it absolutely didn’t disappoint.
A packed Wednesday night crowd fills the 1,500-capacity iconic venue, and the atmosphere is already buzzing before the headliner even tunes up. Much of that energy comes courtesy of Kent’s rising blues-rock firestarters, The Zac Schulze Gang, who tear into their support slot likemen possessed. Formed in Gillingham in 2020, the trio revolve around the dynamic force of guitarist and frontman Zac Schulze. All sharp elbows, flying fingers, and barely contained momentum. Drawing clear inspiration from the jagged punch of Wilko Johnson, the fiery intensity of Rory Gallagher and the groove-laden influence of Fleetwood Mac, they nevertheless sound completely their own. Ant Greenwell’s basslines are elastic and melodic, delivered with as much physicality as the frontman, while brother Ben Schulze anchors everything with muscular, no-frills drumming. The tempo rarely dips. It’s frantic, joyous, and played with the kind of conviction that suggests UK blues-rock has a very healthy future indeed. By the time they leave the stage, they’ve done far more than warm up the room; they’ve ignited it.
Then comes the roar. Samantha Fish strides onstage to a hero’s welcome. As ever, looking amazing, dressed in glossy, vinyl leggings and an animal-print waistcoat, cutting a striking silhouette beneath a halo of blonde, tousled hair. Opening with a fiery take on Kick Out the Jams, there are a few early sound gremlins, vocals briefly swallowed, and the guitar mix not quite sitting right, but credit where it’s due, they’re ironed out quickly. From that point on, the set locks into something formidable.
Fish has long since outgrown the ‘rising star’ label. The Kansas City native, twice Grammy-nominated and personally invited by Eric Clapton to perform at his Crossroads Guitar Festival, commands the Ritz as if it were twice the size. While firmly rooted in blues, her sound stretches confidently through rock, country, funk and soul without ever feeling unfocused. Material from 2025’s Paper Doll lands hard. The title track is greeted like an old favourite, its sultry swagger driven by Ron Johnson’s groove-heavy bass. Better Be Lonely struts and teases as Fish draws molten tones from her guitar, half-snarling and half-cooing her way through the lyrics. At one point, she briefly stumbles on her towering heels, but recovers instantly with a grin, a moment that only adds to the night’s sense of spontaneity.
Yet it’s Bulletproof that feels seismic tonight. Armed with her distinctive cigar-box slide sound, Fish conjures something raw and almost primal, gravel-edged vocals grinding against fuzz-drenched guitar. Switching between her standard microphone and an old-time distortion setup, she transforms the song into a boot-stomping sermon. Around the hall, jaws visibly drop. There are countless guitar changes throughout the night, each one bringing a different tone and texture. Fish’s voice is just as impressive, velvety and steeped in a sultry blues feeling, yet capable of explosive power when the moment demands it.
The crowd are drawn fully into the show, clapping along and feeding off the band’s energy. Behind her, the band are a powerhouse. Jamie Douglass drives the songs forward with relentless drumming, Mickey Finn’s keys add colour and depth, and Johnson glues everything together with understated authority. The venues natural acoustics allow the low end to burn while the high notes soar cleanly above the mix.
As the set races toward its climax, Rusty Razor bristles with restless energy before the inevitable finale. Fish pauses to thank Manchester for a fun night and for supporting live music. Then comes Black Wind Howlin’. In a perfectly judged moment of theatre, Zac Schulze returns to the stage. What follows is pure electricity, harmonies, riffs traded back and forth, blues licks volleyed like prize punches. There’s a nod to the elongated howl of Howlin’ Wolf in the vocal phrasing, but Fish makes it unmistakably her own. The crowd go wild. Two generations, two distinct styles, one shared language, the guitar as both weapon and storyteller. By the final note, the Manchester crowd stand in open-mouthed appreciation. This is incredible blues, with something extra, it’s alive, loud and gloriously defiant.
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Setlist • Kick Out the Jams • Paper Doll • Can Ya Handle the Heat? • I’m Done Runnin’ • Sweet Southern Sounds • Lose You • Bulletproof • Fortune Teller • Poor Mattie • Rusty Razor • Don’t Say It • Black Wind Howlin’
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Samantha Fish can be found at her website | Facebook | Twitter
All words by Claire Glover. More writing by Claire on Louder Than War can be found at her author profile here. | Twitter
Zac Schulze Gang photo by Manny Manson (provided by Peter Noble)
Samantha Fish photos by Melanie Smith – Louder Than War | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Portfolio
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