Jake Bugg

As I stand amongst 5000 devotees within this vast arena singing their hearts out to Oasis (cleverly deployed as the intro music) I can't help but draw comparisons.



Jake Bugg clearly draws his influences from the past in that classic song-writing tradition, and also much like Oasis, has seen a meteoric rise. Already with two big albums under his belt and numerous festival appearances, Jake could almost be considered a veteran despite his young age. As he makes his way onstage with bassist and drummer in tow, he doesn't looked fazed and seems to take the adoring screams from his female fans in his stride.

Without an introduction they're quite literally away taking everyone with them. The first of many sing-alongs tonight provided by 'Two Fingers' from his eponymous debut album. The vocal audience clearly lapping this up. Jake is a man of very few words live, and with the minimalist stage production/lighting is someone who clearly believes it's the songs that should do the talking, and from what I can see everyone is listening.

After an energetic 20 minutes or so, things get a bit more intimate as his band leave the stage, where we find Jake alone as he makes himself comfortable on a stool. For the next 30 minutes we get a more reflective Jake as the set mellows. This creates a communal experience as couples embrace each other, best friends hug each other and sway together. It could have been a gamble to change the pace of the show, but it's one that pays dividends highlighting the diversity of his music and performance.

Soon enough his band rejoin him onstage to finish the set. Of course a rambunctious 'Lighting Bolt' causes the crowd to erupt as he and the band charge their way through it.

With album number 3 in the works, Jake shows no signs of slowing down. A prolific songwriter who's commitment to touring, playing live and writing songs that seem to really resonate will only see his fan base grow. As 5000 smiling faces filter out of the arena, Jake Bugg is clearly doing something very right.

FUTURE GIGS