Catch her before she goes stellar, said Harrogate Festival organisers.
And judging by her performance (18 July 2013) to the crowd at the town’s Royal Hall, that won’t be long.
Fresh from Glastonbury, and en route to Sheffield’s Tramlines’ festival, Lianne La Havas charmed the Harrogate audience with her soulful voice and gifted guitar playing.
Her diminutive figure belied the size and range of her voice. Singing songs from her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough? La Havas literally brought the Royal Hall house down!
Seldom does Harrogate see such a spectacle.
La Havas gently led us on a journey encompassing the highs and lows of her 23 years which has, thankfully, left her with plenty of material for her album.
Failed romances, dalliances with older men, mean ex-boyfriends – it was all there, and more. And the audience lapped it up.
The initially reserved, slightly sedate, crowd were soon stomping and clapping in time to the album’s title track, becoming La Havas’ ‘human percussion’ and singing ‘Forget’ at the top of their voices at La Havas’ nasty former lover.
She is charismatic and charming, her soulful voice strong and smooth, filled with emotion and longing one minute, and fun and lightheartedness the next.
Ably supported by her talented four-piece band, the music that filled the Royal Hall was spectacular – and had the crowd begging for more.
It was just a shame that the venue wasn’t full – that more people hadn’t grabbed the chance to see La Havas before she goes stellar. Because I can guarantee, it won’t be long!
