EMELI SANDÉ // O2 ACADEMY, LEEDS
EMELI SANDÉ RETURS TO LEEDS O2 ACADEMY
EMELI SANDÉ PLAYS SOLD OUT LEEDS O2 ACADEMY
PICTURE BY: LAURA TOOMER PHOTOGRAPHY
When stood outside Leeds O2 Academy in a freezing cold queue that snakes around the whole building, across the road and over a bridge it is hard to believe that this is only Emeli Sandé's second album and that she hasn't toured in a while. Her first album out in 2012 'Our version of events' was critically acclaimed and lead to a number of notable appearances, the most memorable being the opening and closing of the London Olympics. However her performance tonight was no less powerful despite the slightly smaller venue, in fact it was far more raw and edgy.
The night was kicked off by South London's Rita Ekwere A.k.a. Ray BLK. An upcoming Star that has just topped BBC's sound of 2017 list. Starting her career off in rap and now with her musical roots firmly planted in R&B she delivers hey smart lyrics matched with sweet melodies to make her definitely one to watch this year and the perfect support for this special main act.
In the years between albums Emeli has got married and divorced. The spectacular highs and heartbreaking lows of those years are heard and seen on that stage. She walked out and the buzzing excitement of the audience stopped and nothing but silence engulfed the room. Emeli stood on the stage and poured her heart out to the packed O2. Her voice was impeccable whether she was singing with the whole band or just a guitar, every note was delivered to perfection. A seamless performance matched with an emotive backdrop showed a rollercoasters of emotions she has been through in the last few years and she was taking us back through that journey
Her backdrop for the most popular song of the night 'Hurts' showed dark intense thunderstorm clouds which then flowed into another hit 'breathing underwater' which showed pretty picturesque blue skies and fluffy white clouds indicative of the light and shade in emotions she was feeling.
I found that the audience was leaning in the favourite of mostly men and everyone I saw was singing along, they certainly hadn't been dragged along. She captivated everyone and didn't let go. With a mixture of tracks from the first album and the cure one 'long live the angels' that she is promoting, the night was one hit after another. With very little talking in between songs it was a musically packed performance. Without a doubt Emeli Sandé deserves every accolade she is given, her voice, performance and intensity where that of a truly talented artist.
EMELI SANDÉ | UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
24 MARCH 2017 | ANTWERP Lotto Arena
25 MARCH 2017 | ALZETTE Rockhale
27 MARCH 2017 | PARIS Zenith De Paris
28 MARCH 2017 | PARIS Zenith De Paris
29 MARCH 2017 | AMSTERDAM Heineken Music Hall
1 APRIL 2017 | ZURICH Samsung Hall
3 APRIL 2017 | BERLIN Columbia Hall
4 APRIL 2017 | COLOGNE PALLADIUM
12 APRIL 2017 | PARIS Zenith De Paris
19 AUGUST 2017 | V FESTIVAL at Chelmsford
20 AUGUST 2017 | V FESTIVAL at Staffordshire
14 OCTOBER 2017 | ABERDEEN AECC
15 OCTOBER 2017 | GLASGOW The SSE Hydro
16 OCTOBER 2017 | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Metro Radio Arena~
18 OCTOBER 2017 | LONDON The O2
19 OCTOBER 2017 | BRIGHTON Brighton Centre
21 OCTOBER 2017 | CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena
22 OCTOBER 2017 | MANCHESTER Manchester Arena
24 OCTOBER 2017 | LEEDS First Direct Arena
25 OCTOBER 2017 | BIRMINGHAM Genting Arena
27 OCTOBER 2017 | DUBLIN 3Arena