Lumia Live presents: Ella Eyre
Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre, Devon | 29 March
“Hop in the wagon, we’re going to South Devon”, was the cry, as this reviewer cajoled two of his closest cohorts to jump into the Polo and make the journey on a Saturday night down to the Cornish border.
Admittedly, the chaps in question were a little reticent, but the prospect of freebies and the fact the gig in question took place in an antique fairground museum was enough to convince them that a boys’ road trip was worth it. A few passenger seat beers and service station sarnies later, the talk was all pinball machines and waltzers.
Nokia LumiaLive is an initiative which sets out to host shows from fresh talent in innovative and unique spaces. An antique fairground site definitely fits this criteria, and with the vocal talents of 19 year-old Ella Eyre drawing in the punters, there was a definite sense of the ‘one-off’ to the night’s proceedings. After hitting up the hall of mirrors, watching Crack’s mate Alfred ‘and what? One shot’ Allen holing out for coconut and a ride on the ghost train that was actually a little bit disconcerting, we took our pace on the dodgems for some music. As Crack gets a bit older, we’ve come to enjoy the old sit down gig, and what better place than some cushioned dodgems?
Ella Eyre is a definitely a star on the rise. Forged from Rudimental’s biggest track, her 19 year-old voice contains a rougher maturity that sees her straddle a variety of songs across seven tracks performed with a sparse band that includes one member tapping a box for percussion. The stripped back nature of the performance was apt considering the intimacy of the show, and when Eyre returns to sing an acoustic rendition of single Deeper while sat on a dodgem as everyone crowds round, it’s hard not be impressed by the richness of her voice.
A surprisingly decent cover of Good Luck by Basement Jaxx and new single If I Go make the short but well received set an enjoyable foray into an artist who, if she manages to avoid the Ellie Goulding gravy train, has the look (her incredible hair leaves us lost for words) and the voice to go far.
– – – – – – – – – – –
Words: Hulio Bourgeois
CONNECT TO CRACK
