Trowbridge, The Civic - 16/06/22
It’s one of the hottest days of the year so far, and we’re queueing with thousands of other local record store and live music enthusiasts lucky enough to have secured themselves a ticket to one pretty special show, which originally sold out in minutes.
And what a way to spend a heatwave!
It’s not everyday that you get to experience a live gig with one of the biggest names in pop music in an intimate setting; let alone in a small Wiltshire town! But, courtesy of Sound Knowledge (who consistently manage to pull this off - see my other Sound Knowledge reviews here), Marlborough’s local record store, 1,000 lucky fans were given the opportunity to see everyone’s favourite positive pop star, George Ezra!
It’s a short set, but it’s sweet, and it’s fair to say that George Ezra knows how to throw a good party!
Stepping onstage at just gone 6pm to the opening chords of Gold Rush Kid lead single, Anyone For You, the good vibes start instantly. Ezra takes to the stage wearing double denim (a brave choice considering the heat of the room!), as the crowd cheer and sing along with him on every single word.
Despite it being an album launch show for the now UK number 1 record, Gold Rush Kid, there’s still a great mix of songs new and old on the setlist. Pretty Shining People, taken from Ezra’s sophomore studio album, Staying at Tamara’s, is one that really gets the crowd jumping (despite the heat of the venue), complete with a really wholesome audience sing along on the middle eight (Don’t we all need love/the answer is easy).
Ezra’s stage presence is one of the most important aspects of his live performances. From beginning to end, there’s a smile plastered across his face and he looks genuinely like he loves what he does, and equally as excited to be here tonight as the crowd from all different walks of life (there’s young children, adults, teenagers, and even elderly people with walking sticks, proving George Ezra to be a universal artist).
A unique live aspect of George Ezra’s that I’ve noticed and loved at every show I’ve seen him play since 2018, is how he takes the time to tell his crowds the stories that inspired his songs, and tonight is no exception - he tells the story of hearing loud music when with friends in St. Lucia and how he excused himself to find it what was going on. After realising it was a party and asking some girls in a shop what it was for, to which they said, “Well, today is a funeral day in our community, and we are celebrating three lives that we have lost”, he wrote in his journal, “Green green grass, blue blue sky, you better throw a party on the day that I die.” And as he speaks those words, the crowd erupts as the band start to play the opening bars of latest single, Green Green Grass.
Paradise leads to even more crowd interaction, with every single person in the room clapping on the beat in unison and dancing together on the chorus, and 2014’s Wanted on Voyage single, Blame It On Me is complete with Ezra and his equally as brilliant band throwing an onstage carnival. It’s pure joy throughout.
Ending on arguably his two biggest tunes to date, Budapest and Shotgun, the audience’s enthusiasm seems to increase with every track, leaving everyone in a state of not wanting the show to end.
But when the party is over, a feeling of contentment fills the room. George waves to the crowd, and hypes up his band one last time, before leaving the stage, going to prepare himself to do it all again in an hour’s time for a second, “late” show.
It really was a lovely and euphoric experience to be a part of. If you haven’t seen George Ezra live yet, no matter your views on his music, definitely make sure you do at some point in your life. It truly could be the happiest experience!
Sound Knowledge is an indie record shop located in Marlborough, Wiltshire. You can find their website here.
Sound Knowledge’s socials:
Twitter: @SoundKnowledge_
Facebook: @SoundKnowledgeMarlborough
Instagram: @soundknowledge_
George Ezra’s new album, Gold Rush Kid, is out now, via Columbia Records.
You can catch George Ezra on tour across the UK this summer, and early autumn at the following dates:
17 July London Finsbury Park
13 September Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
14 September Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
16 September Manchester AO Arena
20 September Newcastle Utilita Arena
22 September Birmingham Utilta Arena
25 September Aberdeen P&J Live
26 September Glasgow OVO Hydro
28 September Belfast SSE Arena
29 September Dublin 3Arena
1 October Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
2 October Sheffield Utilita Arena
George Ezra’s socials:
Twitter: @george_ezra
Facebook: George Ezra
Instagram: @george_ezra
TikTok: @george_ezra
Website: https://www.georgeezra.com
KATIE HILLIER