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The last time I had the privilege of seeing Carner live was for his ‘Hugo’ tour, at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds. That gig was intimate, holding around 300 people compared to this 3500 capacity venue. True to his character, the crowd size does nothing to change his intent, whether he’s playing for one or 1000. Not only did his stage presence still captivate us, but it was the indisputable rapport he built with the crowd that left a lasting mark.
Before taking to the stage, Carner was supported by great musical friends. Opening act Brian Nasty made it his mission to fuel some energy into the growing swarm of people attending.
Whilst this may seem like a daunting task, he handled it with ease. Within minutes, he had the crowd chanting back lyrics, engaging everyone with his performance. He wasn’t alone, with vocals by Isidora, together they performed their collaboration ‘Iris’. With this being my first introduction to both artists, I didn’t know what to expect, yet the reflective lyrics and sheer camaraderie between the two were intriguing. In between the chanting booms from the crowd, it was sometimes hard to tell whether the audience was truly reciprocating the two artists' energy. However, when you hear Isidora’s soft honey vocals and Nasty’s rap or spoken word, you can’t help but emotionally invest yourself in this love they have for their artistry. Every cheer from fans left them shocked, “damn Manchester”, Isidora voiced to the room, seemingly fueled by the crowd and returning the favour with more of her jazzy vocals.
Rejjie Snow carried on warming up the crowd next. Being a past collaborator of Carner’s, Snow is no stranger to the room, and it showed. His slowed R&B stylings made him a perfect opening act for Carner, with amazing cadence and flow at every turn. Performing popular tracks like ‘Egyptian Luvr’ and ‘Désolé’, he had everyone moving. With true conviction, Snow was able to create more musical momentum ahead of the main act. What truly stood out, though, was Snow’s gratitude to the audience. It felt as though he was enjoying his performance right along with the crowd. When an artist can communicate this love for their craft, the room starts to become infectious, and Snow does it better than most. Yet it’s his humble attitude that makes the performance all the sweeter, “I'm just here to get you guys warmed up for Loyle Carner”, he shouts. But supporting acts are just as important. When the time comes for the main act, most fans will have been standing on their feet for some time; a good supporting act leaves you revitalised, ready to enjoy even more music. Rejjie Snow did just that, and with vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics that definitely speak to a Loyle Carner fanbase. All opening acts were masterfully tailored for the main act, and in turn, made us all fans of their work too.
Emerging onto the stage, heading straight for the mic, Loyle Carner faces his second of three sold-out Manchester shows on his ‘hopefully!’ tour, performing to a packed Victoria Warehouse. Whilst he did claim Manchester to be one of his favourite places to play, he also shared that it was a crowd he remains nervous about each time. He could’ve fooled us; his confidence and undeniable stage presence begged otherwise. The last time I had the privilege of seeing Carner live was for his ‘Hugo’ tour, at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds. That gig was intimate, holding around 300 people compared to this 3500 capacity venue. True to his character, the crowd size does nothing to change his intent, whether he’s playing for one or 1000. Not only did his stage presence still captivate us, but it was the indisputable rapport he built with the crowd that left a lasting mark.
Opening up with ‘in my mind’, it felt powerful that this is where we met him again. There is something truly sincere in Carner’s music, the vulnerability teeming with each lyric. But hearing them live is something else entirely. Suddenly, the room feels lighter, surrounded by strangers who all have something in common: their love for this man and his bravery to say what so many wish they could. Listening to this song in particular on your own is hard-hitting, but seeing a crowd of people coming together to belt it too is heartwarming.
During the show, he wastes no time reminding us that hate has no place in the same room as these songs. Going into one of his latest tracks, ‘horcrux’, Carner explains the song has its name because he’s a massive Harry Potter fan, but not so much of JK Rowling. The list gets longer once he adds people like Andrew Tate and Nigel Farage, when referencing the divisiveness currently stifling the country. The crowd erupting in agreement every time a new name joins the list, the sheer solidarity was encouraging to see. It reminds you how important and healing music can be.
Yet the real punch took place when he performed the tear-jerker ‘Loose Ends’ before his poetic transition into crowd favourite ‘Ice Water’. When I heard 'Loose Ends', I was immediately transported back to university, listening to that song, feeling an insurmountable weight on my shoulders. Now, with time passing and all that has changed, the track really just reminded me that at any age, you never really know what you’re doing; it’s more like blind faith. Instead of looking at this like my uni self did (really pessimistically), the unknown now tastes more like freedom. The show was steeped in a bittersweet feeling, probably as soon as I realised important concerts like this almost become a signpost for your own personal growth. Loyle Carner is that for his fans, and this show was only a stark reminder of that.
It’s also the music itself that has fans enthralled; it’s normal to go to concerts in venues of this size and be surrounded by a sea of phones. Yet looking around, everyone was present, enjoying the jazz-infused music. Almost provides a warm, safe space for his fans to unwind and just enjoy the music for what it is. It truly felt magical to see how much every word meant to the crowd. Each member of Carner’s band was succinct and harmonious with each other, the love for what they do almost palpable. Especially during more introspective tunes like ‘about time’ and ‘ottolenghi’.
As he finished, the crowd cheered and demanded “one more song”. Not only did Carner perform another track, but he also finished with a poem. There’s a word that keeps coming back to mind with this concert. Intent. The poem really just solidified the message that was abundantly clear throughout the gig. That divisive means would never win in a world that is led with love. Since last seeing him in Leeds, it has been a privilege to witness Loyle Carner’s growth, both as an artist and a human. Now a father of two, every anecdote he shared was appreciated. His last words to the crowd? “We will not be divided”. There is true power in music, and Carner poignantly showcased that in this show.
Jessica Sansoa
Images: Corey Rathmell
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