Tonight we are welcomed into the Church of the Dagger. You might be thinking that sounds an awful lot like a cult, which is appropriate given the cult following that swarmed upon the Air Drawn Dagger at their hometown venue of Corporation. It is a huge week for the young band hailing from Sheffield. Their debut album, A Guide For Apparitions, was released the day before this show, and their long promotional campaign culminates here at their largest headline show to date.
Air Drawn Dagger
Corporation, Sheffield – 5 April 2025
Words And Photography: Matt Pratt
Air Drawn Dagger first found their way into my eyeline late last year as they toured in support of Blanket. Their absolute command of the stage and thoughtfully planned performance was all the evidence I needed to be sure that this was a band who were more than capable of sizable headline shows of their own. I have been keeping a keen eye on their intriguing development since.
Other than performing and musical talent, which this band have in abundance, the one thing that is sure to whip up a frenzy of interest is mystique. Bands like Sleep Token and Twenty One Pilots have seen phenomenal success in recent years with their lore-heavy, curious storylines that accompany their award-winning hits.
Air Drawn Dagger have looked to create a compelling mythos of their own in the build up to their first studio album. Lead vocalist Maisie Manterfield has channelled her own interests in fantasy and witch culture into the lyrics of the band’s diverse portfolio of modern emo hits, giving them a mysterious and sometimes spooky feeling.
This atmosphere has been amplified with the release of the album’s cryptic music video series, directed by Aaron McKenzie of the legendary Sheffield Metalcore band, While She Sleeps.
Before any of the bands took to the stage, there was a special treat for all of those in Air Drawn Dagger’s ‘congregation’. The Patreon supporters of the band were invited down early for a short acoustic set before general admission piled through the doors.
The lucky few huddled around Manterfield as they whipped through a couple of the band’s popular hits, old and new, with no amplification other than the vocalist’s powerful voice and the echo of the acoustic guitar. 
Following the brief appetiser, the lucky few early goers were then ushered over to the main stage for a flurry of energised support acts to heat us up for the main event, a full headline show from Air Drawn Dagger.
With celebration at the forefront of the evening’s sentiments, the show aptly opened with a procession of confetti cannons fired by the band’s acolytes, as they entered to the roar of the passionate crowd.
The show had a delicate balance of new and old songs, keen to shout about their latest project but mindful of celebrating the tunes that got them to where they are today. In all honesty, it was difficult to distinguish which songs were old and which were new by the reception of the room.
The entire setlist was received with equal measures of energy, songs such as Sanctifound, Title Fight, Castle and Stigmata plunging us directly into the deep end.
The set was not without its surprises. A mid-set rendition of The Prodigy’s Omen was warmly received, dialling up the already furious energy in the room. What nobody in the room would have expected was for the electronic rock legend’s hit song to seamlessly transition into a Heavy Metal cover of Britney Spears Toxic.
Where previous iterations of the Metal fan archetype might have scoffed at the inclusion of something so mainstream, tonight’s attendees adored the heavy twist on the chart-topping song, practically taking the roof off the legendary Sheffield venue.
Where many bands would simply show up, play their hits and leave, Air Drawn Dagger exhibited a much more holistic, theatrical approach to their performance. The show was littered with interlinking performances, costume changes and even a dramatic display from Mantherfield as she appeared to bleed profusely on stage mid-performance.
At a time when the spectacle of the performance is as important as the quality of the music, it is great to see a band in its infancy putting so much effort into the production of their show, and it fills me with anticipation of what the band may pull off as they grow in success.
In what appeared to be the final song of their set, the trio gave us a rendition of the final track in their new album, Bellyaches. The song is an appropriate one at this significant juncture in the promising young band’s career. It discusses the daunting decision of tossing aside a safe yet bland existence in favour of the uncertain and rewarding lifestyle which could be equated to that of a touring band.
Unsatisfied with their initial ending, the musicians returned for a second curtain call with a performance of You Should Have Known Better, drawing the final gasps of energy left in the audience.
This show was everything you could want to receive from a hometown headline show. The attendees felt intimately connected to the band on stage, belting out the songs and watching on with eyes full of admiration and pride.
The display was also a wonderful advertisement for what the band are capable of with the continued backing of their existing and new fans. It does not take much mental heavy lifting to imagine an immersive festival headline extravaganza in the future of this band and I truly believe they have what it takes to get there.
The band have already alluded to a busy year ahead. They have been shortlisted for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition and I would be stunned if we were not to see them on tour again before the year is out.
With the foundations that Air Drawn Dagger have laid today, it is sure that they are on the path to building something spectacular. Make sure you join them on this journey and witness the theatrical majesty of the thrilling three-piece.
