Better Joy’s upward momentum shows no sign of slowing as Bria Keely brings her shimmering indie-pop project to the vast stage of Hammersmith Apollo on 20th November 2025, opening for Amy Macdonald. It’s a landmark moment for the Manchester-based songwriter, whose journey from intimate rooms to arena-sized crowds has accelerated at remarkable speed over the past eighteen months.
Better Joy @ Hammersmith Apollo
Taking to the stage with quiet confidence, Keely opens her set with What A Day, immediately setting a warm, melodic tone that carries across the cavernous venue. There’s a clarity to Better Joy’s sound that cuts through the scale of the room — bright guitar lines, pulsing bass, and Keely’s expressive vocals combining to create something both intimate and expansive. This Part Of Town, one of the standout tracks from her recent run of releases, lands with particular resonance, its reflective lyricism drawing the audience in despite the early slot.
Midway through the set, new single Plugged In underlines just how far Better Joy has come. Taken from Keely’s second EP At Dusk, the song captures a subtle shift in tone — still rooted in accessible indie-pop, but deeper, more assured, and emotionally direct. As Keely has described it, the track reflects “the moment of finally connecting with someone and understanding love for the very first time,” and live it carries a sense of genuine release. Quiet Thing and Steamroller continue to showcase the evolving palette of the project, balancing vulnerability with moments of driving energy.
Better Joy @ Hammersmith Apollo
Closing with Dead Plants, Keely leaves the stage to a strong and appreciative response, having made the most of a high-profile support slot that could easily overwhelm a less self-assured performer. Instead, Better Joy sounds completely at home, offering a compelling snapshot of an artist in the midst of defining her next chapter.
That chapter follows a breakout year. After releasing her debut EP heading into blue in March 2025 — which sold out its limited baby blue vinyl pressing and was followed by a predominantly sold-out debut headline tour — Keely has continued to build momentum with singles This Part Of Town and Plugged In. Both feature on her second EP At Dusk, released on 31st October and produced by Mike Hedges (The Cure, U2, Manic Street Preachers, Travis). Recorded at Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle of Wight and mixed by Caesar Edmunds and Robbie Nelson, the EP marks a conscious evolution in sound and mindset.
“I like that the Better Joy sound is evolving,” Keely has said. “It’s what we do as people, so it’s only natural the sound grows with me.” At Dusk stands as a sister release to heading into blue, shaped by a period where the 27-year-old stopped trying to fit expectations and instead focused on defining the project on her own terms.
From BBC Radio 6 praise to major support tours and now arena stages, Better Joy’s rise feels both rapid and well-earned. Her performance at Hammersmith Apollo is less a surprise and more a confirmation: Bria Keely is no longer just one to watch — she’s already on her way.
Upcoming 2026 Live Dates:
FEBRUARY
4th – DUST, Brighton
5th – Tunbridge Wells Forum
MARCH
17th – Exchange, Bristol
18th – Gorilla, Manchester
20th – Oslo, London
APRIL
17th – Upstairs at Whelan’s, Dublin
Photography of Better Joy @ Hammersmith Apollo, London by Kalpesh Patel on 20th November 2025.
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