1st of 2012 Brit Award winners play XOYO

24th January 2012 – Q Now: The Sessions – Emeli Sandé supported by Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka probably had the hardest job for a support act at this series of gigs – opening for Emeli Sandé, already highly recognised by being the Brit’s Critics Choice and nominated for the British Breakthrough Act – but his own placing of 3rd in the critics choice meant he came highly recommended. In a fairly low key set his mix of soul and folk enveloped the filling venue, preparing the audience for the upcoming vocal display.

From Q Now - The Sessions - Emeli Sanda plus Michael Kiwanuka

As the audience waited for Emeli, the anticipation built as the tempo of the tracks being played by the DJ increased… With a smooth backing band behind her and occasionally on the keys, Emeli’s vocals resonated through the venue – possibly a little too big for such a confined space – she could easily blow away a venue such as the Royal Albert Hall. The highlight of the evening, for me, was a medley of her collaborations with house hold names that has already seen Emeli in the charts for most of 2011. Surely the days of Emeli playing intimate venues such as XOYO and Borderline for the HMV Next Best Thing series in February are numbered – the larger venues that her voice demands beckon. Surely no one in the audience left without knowing they had been privileged to hear Emeli in such close proximity.

Has this series reached it’s high point? To Kill a King, Howler and the Rizzle Kicks will attempt to raise the bar again on the next three nights.

Set Lists:

Emeli Sandé	Michael Kiwanuka
Tiger Where I Sleep Suitcase Lifetime Clown Next to me Breaking The Law Hope Medley Montage! Maybe Daddy Mountain Heaven My kind of Love	I’ll Get Along I’m Getting Ready Rest Tell Me a Tale “Lasan” Home Again I Don’t Know

It all starts with one support act and builds from there…

From Ane Brun 2011

I’d heard Ane Brun supporting Peter Gabrial twice and those small tasters had left me wanting to hear more so I snapped up a ticket to her headline show at Scala… The support came from Linnea Olsson, a member of Ane’s band – but clearly a talented soloist in her own right. Combining her cello cleverly with a pedal board that would have done a few lead guitarist proud she performed a set of nautically themed songs – some very haunting melodies. I feel a chain of wanting to hear more of support acts beginning – Linnea is now on my watch list for future gigs…

Looking at the stage set up it wasn’t entirely clear which genre of music was about to be performed – two large drum kits, two synth/keyboard positions and an electric guitar weren't quite want I’d expected for the folk based sound Ane had opened for Peter Gabrial’s with… Once the music began it became clear the drum kits where the centre of a very well crafted percussion section rather than rock drummers! Ane took over where Linnea had left off – producing a set of haunting melodies – one of the highlights was Oh Love, with audience participation that was controversially almost as good as the Scots! Compliments also go to the lighting engineer, managing to add to the atmosphere of the music while not resorting to “lack of light” lighting! It was a shame that Scala’s dual role as a club and live music venue on a Friday evening meant there was a strict curfew of 10pm to allow time for the Friday night club night to replace Ane’s fans…

Set List (Ane Brun – Scala, 11th November 2011):

• These days
• One
• Worship
• Words
• Let myself go
• Puzzle
• This Voice
• Oh Love
• Dirty Windshields
• Humming one of yours songs
• What’s happening to with you and him
• Do you remember
• Changing of the seasons (1st encore)
• Balloon Ranger
• The light from one
• Undertow (2nd encore)

Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy

This was an evening of live music only available to 250 people who pre-ordered Pixie Lott's new album, Young Foolish Happy , and lucky enough to win tickets - which may or may not have been everyone who pre-ordered the album, who could also make it to London on misty autumn Wednesday given the number of physical albums actually sold these days...

From Pixie Lott 2011 (Jazz Cafe)

Giving those who actually pay for music rewards such as this is a trend I really like and urge all labels and artists to adopt. It encourages people to pay for music rather than pirate it, and keeps the tickets out of the hands of the touts and resellers - no touts at all as the queue formed outside the Jazz Cafe at least an hour before the doors opened! The evening was opened by Angel, which given the audience was full of the most dedicated Pixie fans, plus one that will go to almost any live music in London, especially in venues that offer good photographic opportunities, was a brave effort - he'd clearly managed to get a few fans on the guest list, and by the end of his set may have gained a few more...

Pixie played a short set – unsurprisingly mainly from the new album. It was unfortunate, given Pixie's mainly younger fan base, that the venue’s license meant it was an 18+ event, as it would have been a perfect location for an early introduction to how good live music can be away for the large venue such as the O2 - which can support an all ages audience, but are just not the same..... It was a chance for me to hear again the new tracks from Pixie's second album – they benefitted from being stripped back even further than they had been at the HMV Forum for the Q Awards series of gigs… Stevie on the radio again being a highlight with a live standing for Stevie Wonder on the harmonica.

Set List (Pixie Lott – Jazz Cafe, 9th November 2011)

• Mama Do
• Everybody Hurts Sometimes
• Stevie on the Radio
• You Win
• Cry Me Out
• Young Foolish Happy
• All About Tonight