LIVE REVIEW
JAMES MARRIOT
NX NEWCASTLE
It did take me by surprise just how many people turned out to see singer, musician and YouTube content creator James Marriott perform at NX in Newcastle. I don't mean I was surprised people wanted to see him; I knew it was a sold-out show, but physically seeing a queue that spanned three streets, pretty much, as the line of people coiled around the venue waiting to get their spot as near as possible to the stage. Some fans had been there for 10 hours!!! It really was a sight to behold. The fanbase is a loyal one, and James rewarded that loyalty with an impromptu performance on the front steps of NX, which was a nice touch.
Having made it inside, you could feel the positive energy from the audience, all buzzing with anticipation as the first act of the night took to the stage.
Scottish singer Calum Bowie did a cracking job of getting the audience warmed up. It must be daunting opening a sold-out show, but Calum seemed to be enjoying himself, and the crowd were definitely onside, which is handy as he is coming back to the city on his own tour soon. A great start to the night.
Having made it inside, you could feel the positive energy from the audience, all buzzing with anticipation as the first act of the night took to the stage.
Scottish singer Calum Bowie did a cracking job of getting the audience warmed up. It must be daunting opening a sold-out show, but Calum seemed to be enjoying himself, and the crowd were definitely onside, which is handy as he is coming back to the city on his own tour soon. A great start to the night.
Up next were siblings Esme Emerson, who also gave a stellar performance, with the crowd singing along and lighting up the room with their phone flashlights. At one point screams of excitement broke out from fans who spotted James' YouTube partner in crime, Will NE, who poked his head out of the side doors for a moment.
After a short set change it was time for the main event, headliner James Marriott. The energy from the crowd was electric, and they were all in great spirits as James and his band took to the stage. The dimly lit stage with red light and smoke made for a very dramatic scene as James stood centre stage, with the audience shouting and some even screaming his name. That's a wall of sound you don't get to experience every day.
James kicked things off with 'Ventriloquist', with the audience already eating out of the palm of his hand; his showmanship really did come out as the night progressed. James connected with the audience's energy, saying that Newcastle was like a second home to him, so this show was kind of a homecoming gig, and that really resonated with the fans.
One thing I noticed about the way James sings is that he is very theatrical in his movements and really performs each lyric, from his facial expressions to his hand gestures and stances. He really does put everything into what he does, and it has paid off for sure.
James kicked things off with 'Ventriloquist', with the audience already eating out of the palm of his hand; his showmanship really did come out as the night progressed. James connected with the audience's energy, saying that Newcastle was like a second home to him, so this show was kind of a homecoming gig, and that really resonated with the fans.
One thing I noticed about the way James sings is that he is very theatrical in his movements and really performs each lyric, from his facial expressions to his hand gestures and stances. He really does put everything into what he does, and it has paid off for sure.
His set was a decent size, with songs including 'Plastecine' and 'California Rain' proving very popular with James' fans. He also took a moment to dedicate 'It’s Only Love' to Will's parents. As I left the photo pit, I spotted Will NE standing watching his mate on stage; he had a grin from ear to ear, and you could see in his eyes the pride he felt for James.
The whole show was just an incredibly happy and positive experience from start to finish. In this day of experiencing things through a screen, it was really great to see such a massive turnout.
You should definitely get yourself along to a show if you get the chance.
The whole show was just an incredibly happy and positive experience from start to finish. In this day of experiencing things through a screen, it was really great to see such a massive turnout.
You should definitely get yourself along to a show if you get the chance.
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