Bringing the feel-good vibes to Birmingham for a Saturday evening was singer-songwriter James Bay as part of his Up All Night Tour, and also celebrating 10 years since the release of his number one debut album Chaos and the Calm. Setting the tone for the evening at the packed-out O2 Academy was Canadian multi-instrumentalist Leif Vollebekk who performed a tremendous set including songs taken from his 2024 album Revelation. Vollebekk also treated us to a delicate cover of Prince’s Purple Rain which went down an absolute storm and demonstrated his natural, music flare which was a complete crowd-pleaser. Be sure to keep Leif on your radar if you’re a fan of Damien Rice, Father John Misty or Bon Iver, as he explores a unique blend of folk and indie elements, displaying true musician craftsmanship that complimented this evening perfectly.
Up next was the main man of the night, welcomed by his incredible band, James Bay took to the stage bringing his cheeky character in abundance, and of course, styling his signature hat. Bay’s setlist consisted of a decade-long catalogue with remarkable melodies, electric vibes, soulful vocals and mesmerising leadership, performing tracks from all four of his albums including his most recent release Changes All The Time. Before playing one of the leading singles from that album, Bay took a moment to show his appreciation for his fans saying “Last October I released a new album and it’s all thanks to you that it got to number 1, things have changed but I’ve got you guys and you’ve still got me I can promise you that” an almighty roar from the audience followed as he began to play Easy Distraction. The setlist also included some key singles from Bay’s career including tracks such as Let It Go, Wild Love, Give Me The Reason, Scars and If You Ever Want to Be In Love. The crowd were belting back each song, word-for-word with Bay soaking in every single note as he took a few moments throughout the set to gaze at the audience in awe. The chemistry and appreciation of the band were also prominent throughout the set with each member showcasing their music proficiency with their passion and pure joy from start to finish.
We were even given a few snippets of covers that were warmly welcomed by the audience, including Can’t Help Falling In Love, Bay was testing the waters saying “maybe if I come back to Birmingham I could do a requests show” which was certainly approved by the audience! Birmingham seemed to be a favourite city for James too, stating “every time we come here it’s a joy” and “it’s very nice in here, quite fancy, we played here a few years ago and so this feels a bit special”.
Although the entire evening was joyous and enjoyable, there was a moment during the set when an audience member needed medical attention. Being the observant band leader that he is, James paused the music and made sure the fan was taken care of before dedicating the song to her and wishing her well, accompanied by the support of the audience, of course. When something like this happens at a gig, I feel my faith in humanity is resorted, when you see everyone trying to help the situation not hinder, and with an audience of all ages James Bay manages to tune in and connect with each fan for their own personal reasons which again was something salient.
As the night came to a close, Bay made a deal with the audience before finishing with his anthem single Hold Back The River, “just 2 more things from you Birmingham, 1. Big love to Leif and 2. I won’t even let you leave until you make a load of noise for the lads on stage”, the crowd didn’t disappoint with an ear-piercing cheer of approval and appreciation.
I was lucky enough to see James Bay perform in Cannock Chase back in 2016, not long after his debut was released, and seeing him perform in Birmingham almost 10 years later demonstrated how he has naturally unravelled into a terrific frontman, who can hold the audience in the palm of his hand. Seeing him develop from the shy guy behind his guitar to the ever-smiling charismatic band leader that he has become has been an enchanting delight.
A wholesome, feel-good evening with no fake smiles in sight!
Photo Gallery by Pete Key
Words by Charlotte Hooper
