Ziggy Alberts at Scala

Singer-songwriter, environmentalist and avid surfer Ziggy Alberts takes to Scala tonight amidst some of London’s most passionate Australians. 

Barefoot on stage, as seems to be the vogue these days, the artist starts his set with Heaven from his soon-to-be-released album Laps Around the Sun. Each time there is a break in the song, fans are quick to scream their appreciation. During Four Feet in the Forest – part of on the eponymous 2016 EP – Alberts plays his acoustic electric guitar flat on his lap, adding a drum beat and tambourine by way of foot pedals. The musician’s performance feels a little unrehearsed due to a broken earpiece, but despite this, he eases his way into the set. Foraying into 2014’s Land & Sea, it’s no surprise the lyrics mention Ben Howard; the British singer-songwriter heavily influences Alberts’s music. The performer recounts the story of his personal journey of moving to Byron Bay, Australia, where he began busking, before playing Warm Coffee (The Market Song). The drumbeats are a little too simple and acoustically unchallenging, but the set is an Australian fan’s dream.

The vocalist makes some more speeches, in one of which he elucidates to the audience the importance of caring – whether it’s about animal welfare, the environment or sustainability – using his platform to raise awareness as well as encourage. This is followed by a rendition of With Better Off (The Captain Planet Song), the set picking up a little.  

For Hands I Can Hold, (Land & Sea, 2014) Alberts gets everyone – including his tour manager and team assistant, who join him on stage – to crouch and then rise up at the height of the chorus, which is fun to behold. Treating his fans to a surprise, the artist plays Stronger, released midnight this very evening, and one of the highlights of the show. Returning for the encore after a thunderous chanting of “Ziggy, Ziggy,” the musician performs his second highlight, Youngblood to the joyous applause of the crowd, leaving his guitar a moment to bust some dance moves on stage, then giving his guitar one final strum. 

Alberts’s music is very similar to that of his acoustic folk contemporaries; the topics of his songs relate to love, beautiful girls and experiencing life’s hardships – all themes which are easy to identify with – but if there is one element that makes the performer distinct, it’s his passion for the environment. Coming from a surfing background and growing up by the ocean, the artist’s inspirations are evident, and tonight’s set produces a sense of closeness, an opportunity for London’s Australian community to get together in support of one of the country’s rising stars. 

Selina Begum
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit Ziggy Alberts’s website here.

Watch the video for the Laps Around the Sun here: