Kawala at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

It was a bittersweet night at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire as the five-piece known as Kawala took to the stage for one last time. The Farewell Tour has been a celebration of their decade-long dance, allowing both themselves and their dedicated fanbase a worthy goodbye. This show was everything Kawala pride themselves on – a joyous, welcoming, soulful space with some damn good music.

Jim, Daniel, Reeve, Dan and Suren (the drummer on loan from their heroes Bombay Bicycle Club) walk onstage casually, taking the time to tune their own guitars before bursting into the upbeat Never Really Here for Long. Already the music is a lament for their inevitable goodbye, but they make sure not to leave the crowd in the sadness of it for too long; tonight is still a party. Time Slipping Away and Pure Desire showcase the band’s rich, melodic sound, with drums up the walls and easy harmonies.

The setlist is a wave of emotions, from the dynamic Make a Difference to the dreamy Heavy in the Morning. What transforms this concert from good to unforgettable, though, was Mighty River. In a twist that has the room up in arms, the two frontmen – Jim Higson and Daniel McCarthy – dip into the gawking fans below to sing this folky tune. The looks on the faces of those around them are truly mesmerising, core memories in the process of being formed.

Higson and McCarthy’s presence is relaxed and friendly, making this two thousand capacity venue feel as intimate as your local open mic. They’re not afraid to have a chat, and are constantly cracking jokes; it couldn’t be more obvious that they’ve been doing this together for over ten years, and it’s beautiful to see.

As they draw towards the end, the fact that this is it is rumbling in the air. Before the last song, McCarthy reveals in a speech that the reason they have had to stop touring is financial – the economic situation in the UK has meant that it isn’t tenable for them to continue anymore. It’s devastating, and a true reminder of the difficulties of this industry, especially for smaller acts.

And so they make sure to leave nothing on the table. Everyone is screaming, rocking, and dancing as they start Ticket to Ride. It is gorgeously raucous as everyone does their best to make the night memorable. There are arms around shoulders and smiles on faces, and no one leaves early, reluctant to let the night end.

Talitha Stowell
Photos: Nick Bennett

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

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