Newton Faulkner at the Forum

Celebrating his recent and fifth studio album release Human Love, Newton Faulkner played the Forum in Kentish Town last night, where he delivered an incredible set.

The audience was timid to begin with, as Faulkner opened with a few of his slower songs, but he soon broke the ice with a cover of Justin Bieber’s Sorry, accompanied by a drummer and a pan-piper. Faulkner’s impressive skill on the guitar gave this arguably overplayed song a new twist and turned the audience from passive to active. This unusual choice was followed by classics such as Teardrop and new songs from Human Love such as Up Up and Away. Dream Catch Me was a definite highlight, projecting a completely different aura live than recorded, with a much rawer quality to Faulkner’s voice. Throughout, it felt as if he poured his heart into his songs.

Faulkner is clearly a born performer and keeps every show fresh and interesting. To prevent his material from blending into one, between tracks he used his immense wit, instigated a dance competition in which audience members were rewarded with a t-shirt, and even donned a poncho, all in the name of his audience’s entertainment. 

The concert ended on an extraordinary note: Faulkner started to play Green Day’s Basket Case, which soon turned into his own song Write It on Your Skin. The audience were spellbound and when Faulkner commanded everyone to jump to the rhythm of his guitar, the Forum was reached ecstasy.

Faulkner created a feel-good experience for his audience that they won’t forget.

Luisa Kapp
Photos: Filippo L’Astorina 

For further information about Newton Faulkner and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Dream Catch Me here: