Crisis Presents at the Hammersmith Apollo

Crisis Presents at Hammersmith Apollo was a concert with a mission. Not only was the night dedicated to showcasing some of Britain’s finest upcoming musicians, it was a campaign promoting Crisis, the national charity dedicated to aiding single homeless people in the UK.

The night kicked off with a stellar performance by alt-rock band Bastille who made sure to get the crowd in good spirits from the word go. Fans swayed to and fro to the pounding beats of Laura Palmer as singer Daniel Smith belted out the lyrics “Can you feel it? Can you feel it?” They most certainly could. As a final thank you to fans, Smith plunged himself into the stalls making his way through throngs of screaming girls, heading back on stage in one piece. This was a charming performance by a charming band.

Next on was newcomer Foxes, the Southampton bred female singer-songwriter who recently took the music world by storm. Foxes has collaborated with music producer and DJ Zedd, her vocals appearing in his single Clarity as well as having her own single Youth featured on popular American drama Gossip Girl. Very much in the fashion of female artists such as Bat for Lashes and Florence and the Machine, Foxes encapsulated her audience with a theatrical set, haunting vocals and elegant movements, performing with her whole body.

How do you get electro duo AlunaGeorge to perform a no-fuss set with maximum output? Strip them down to basic essentials: vocals, keyboard, drums and talent. AlunaGeorge kept their sexy cool with a stripped back set and laid back vibes. An understated cool took over as they performed minimalist tracks from their album Body Music.

The penultimate act to grace the stage was British soul musician Michael Kiwanuka. Compared to the likes of Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Van Morrison and the Temptations, Kiwanuka swapped country and soul for rock’n’roll, with crunching guitar riffs and an ethereal ghostly voice that would make the likes of The Who and Simon and Garfunkel proud.

Wrapping the night up Jake Bugg got the crowd on the tips of their toes with an electrifying performance of hit singles including What Doesn’t Kill You and Slumville Sunrise. It’s difficult to keep reminding yourself Bugg is only 19 years old. With a mature sound that can be compared to Bob Dylan and the Arctic Monkeys, Bugg is clearly welcomed as one of the finest newcomers to the British music scene.

Nastassja Smart
Photos: Adam Bennett

For further information about Crisis and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Jake Bugg Slumville Sunrise here: