Motorways, bridges, and roads may be closed due to immense flooding, but that did not stop myself and 450 other fans from packing out the legendary venue, The Fleece.
Tucked away in the heart of the very rainy Bristol city centre, we have gathered to witness a very special, stripped-down acoustic performance by three-time Grammy-nominated, Brit Award-winning soul, pop, and blues singer songwriter Mr. James Bay.
To celebrate the release of his fourth album, ‘Changes All the Time,’ James Bay set out on the road to play a handful of acoustic shows in some very intimate venues. Swapping the usual theatres, arenas, and festival main-stages for the smaller venues up and down the UK and Europe.
Nonchalantly walking onto the stage with a smile that could be seen from the back of the room, James is handed one of the many guitars he would be using for the short 7 song set, mentioning to the attendees that he will be changing guitars for each song but not because he has to; he just likes showing them off. Playing songs largely from the latest album, such as ‘up all night’ ‘easy distraction’, and ‘hope’ which at the time had only been out for a total of 4 days, so I was surprised that when these songs were played, the vast majority of the audience knew every single word to them.
Between each song, James would tell stories about how each piece was originally conceived, usually intertwined with jokes and tangents, often asking the audience as a whole and even individual people questions.
Highlights for me came towards the end of the set when James played his incredibly well known songs ‘let it go’ and ‘hold back the river.’ These songs were met with an enormous roar of the crowd, this being before a huge sing along. James even stepped back from the microphone to listen to all 450 but sounding like 2000 giggoers singing their hearts out.
This is a very special handful of shows, and I am definitely feeling grateful that I got to attend such an event.
James Bay will be on tour early next year, travelling up and down the UK, this time with his band, and I strongly suggest you get out and watch him perform live. His voice is really that smooth, and his guitar playing is beyond flawless.
New album ‘Changes All The Time’ is out now.
I am a self taught Photographer and an aspiring reviewer.
I have been in and out of bands for the past 15 years and some, so thought it only makes sense to stay in the scene that has been the most important aspect of my life since I can remember, live music.
Available for:
I am available for small gigs, larger concerts, recording sessions and festivals.
First attended gig:
The first proper gig that went to that I can actually remember was Muse supported by a then lesser known Elbow and I think the main reason I remember that is because it was the first big concert that I was allowed to go to with just my friends. Obviously Muse were fantastic by the way.
First gig shot:
Im pretty sure the first gig I shot was for a friends band at a local social club with some sort of £30 Argos camera. You can only imagine the fantastic quality of the shots.
Dream gig:
My dream gig to shoot would most definitely be either Tool, not just because they are amazing but their stage and lighting is magnificent. Or I would love to shoot another one of my favourite bands which is Explosions In The Sky and that’s just because they are incredible.
