Jamie Lawson at The Forum

A welcome gathering, spanning a wide demographic, greeted British singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson last night at The Forum in Camden. Lawson shook off the New Year blues after a busy 2015, which peaked in a number-one album in the UK, and kicked off 2016 with a January UK headline tour starting from Glasgow and ending in North London last night.

Lawson treated the eager acoustic folk-pop enthusiasts to an extensive set, consisting of songs from his most recent eponymous album and a few numbers unearthed from his musical beginnings. He opened the night with The Only Conclusion, supported by his piano, drums and bass entourage. While his full-bodied vocal range and glittering guitar backdrop resonated throughout the venue, his lack of drive resulted in a lukewarm prelude. The evening continued with more humble expressions of love and compassion, including Someone for Everyone and Don’t Let Me Let You Go, which were modest and hardly memorable.

On the other hand, tracks like Cold in Ohio and In Our Own Worlds conveyed an intimacy that particularly stood out during the set. Lawson immersed the audience in a serene, troubadour feel with the smooth melodies, poignant lyrics and slow-brewing harmonies of In Our Own Worlds. The Touch of Your Hand (from his debut album The Pull of the Moon) and All Is Beauty were equally enchanting. The Touch of Your Hand cast a gentle, rippling ambience across every corner of the space, with feathery guitar sonorities and a beautiful Irish-toned chorus melody, while a single spotlight shone above Lawson’s tender vocals and the harmonies of his mahogany-coloured guitar during All Is Beauty.

Wasn’t Expecting That (referring to the Plymouth-born singer-songwriter’s growing success), drew the greatest response from the crowd. It was clear that this particular song held a firm place in both the audience and Lawson’s heart, evident from his heartfelt expressions, his flawless vocal-guitar performance and a harmonious sing-along from the audience. Moments later, Lawson sarcastically told the crowd that “you all know how it works” and just before they prepared to head back out into the bitter frost, he finished off the night with a serene acoustic encore of Sometimes It’s Hard.

Jamie Lawson fulfilled his reputation as a promising talent with an evening of fine folk-pop that won over a warm audience.

Isaku Takahashi
Photos: Erol Birsen

For further information about Jamie Lawson and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Wasn’t Expecting That here: