Sunday 17 March 2019

STUNNING - SEAFRET @ The Wardrobe, Leeds - 27.02.19

Hello everyone!

Today's post is a good couple of weeks late, not quite keeping up as I should be but I've had a very busy couple of weeks, working to finish a project before I started my new job last week(!), and I had another gig the night after this one, (that will be coming too), so I apologise for the late delivery but it's been a bit of a crazy few weeks!

But here we are and I've got an amazing gig to tell you about! I was very kindly granted a photo pass by Seafret to their BEAUTIFUL show at The Wardrobe in Leeds, one of the stops on their UK tour in February, and it was mesmerising. Their support acts were also incredible and the overall talent, voices and playing throughout the entire night were of such a high standard that I felt very lucky to be in that audience. It truly was a stunning show.

I've been a huge fan of Seafret since my discovery of their first album, 'Tell Me It's Real', in early 2016 which has since been one of my favourite albums of all time. The lyrics and stories are of heartbreak and first loves, perfectly accompanied by beautiful, modest arrangements with no unnecessary fuss and overproduction. Their sound comprises of elements of pop/rock, but they mainly write delicate, enchanting ballads and Jack's voice can send chills down your spine. I've often turned to their music whenever I've experienced moments of heartbreak and their songs take me back to those times every time I listen to them.

I've been dying to see them live for years and so I was thrilled to finally get into a show. The support acts, Callum Spencer and Rosborough, were unknown to me before the show but I was so impressed by their playing and songs that I'm now a solid fan of them both. 

REVIEW

CALLUM SPENCER


Opening the show was Callum Spencer; his lovely set, preparing the audience for a night of strong voices and skilful instrumentals. He was energetic, dancing around as much as he could whilst playing his guitar as he stood alone on the stage, singing his heart out. His songs were really well written and had a similar sentimentality to country music, but with more of a popular sound. He sang a new song called 'Think About It', from his new EP, also performing the title track 'Nothing But Strangers' which is infectious and upbeat. My favourite of his songs had to be 'Say It', which talks of a relationship nearing its end but the other person not being able to admit it. His music was endearing and authentic; it was so nice to see a musician singing and playing so confidently and so well without gimmicks or pretence. It was brave and it was real, a wonderful opening to the show.





ROSBOROUGH


Next up was Rosborough, an artist from Derry in Ireland, again with a humble set of only himself performing the vocals and guitar, accompanied by his drummer. Rosoborough's music was more rock and roll, again with a powerful, gritty voice and a solid, confident sound. He started his set with his fierce track 'Fall To Earth' which I've listened to so many times since, full of gumption and guitar. He had the crowd invested after just one song, continuing to play tracks about people leaving his home town, one about the stars called 'Burn Blue', and another about house parties called 'Another Lesson'. His set was full of powerful songs, genuine stories and great melodies. Rosborough also treated us to a beautiful cover of 'True Love Will Find You In The End', originally by Daniel Johnston, which he sung with such heart, the hopeful and gentle track perfectly balancing his set. It was another awesome performance and continued the line of genuinely talented and honest musicians taking the stage that night.





SEAFRET


After two impressive performances by Callum and Rosborough, Seafret walked on to the stage to a huge round of applause and played the most divine headline show. They opened with a few tracks from their first album, including 'Atlantis', which plucked at every heart string with as much precision as Harry was plucking the strings of his guitar, alongside Jack's hypnotic vocals. The boys stood alone on the stage, Jack simply using his voice and Harry choosing only either his guitar or the piano, depending on which suited each track best. The effect was a spell-binding, intimate and simply beautiful show where pure talent triumphed and the true heart of their sound transported the entire room away.



The boys performed a gorgeous arrangement of one of their latest singles, 'Can't Look Away', which was stripped back and stunning. Harry's compositional skill really shone throughout the night; his ability to write such emotive melodies, on both the guitar and piano, and to effortlessly swap between the two during the show, embellishing the melodies and timing each note perfectly to take the whole crowd's breath away. Jack's vocal performance was also stunning; Seafret's tracks are full of huge ballads and powerfully sung choruses, but Jack didn't miss a single beat. Every song was magically beautiful and I spent most of the night having forgotten I wasn't the only person in the room.



Seafret continued with their gut-punching love songs, performing breath-taking renditions of 'Wildfire', 'Breathe' and 'Missing'. When you buy a ticket to a Seafret show, it is guaranteed to be a emotional night. Their lyrics are as honest, heart-wrenching and beautiful as Rupi Kaur's 'Milk and Honey' poetry collection. Jack felt the need to explain to the crowd that although he writes about heartbreak, he's not depressed as you might imagine; "I have to laugh in between songs or I'll cry *laughs* I don't just sit at home crying, it's not normal for a man to be this emotional." Having said that, he then lead on to sing three of his most tear-inducing songs; a new song 'Heartless', the classic 'Oceans' and then the brutally heartbreaking 'Tell Me It's Real', which if you survived without crying, than you're a stronger person than I! It was STUNNING! That song can break your heart all over again and their performance was enough to knock the air out of your body, it was something else! After they'd finished, a number of audience members shouted "IT'S REAL" and the boys laughed,  receiving a massive round of cheers and applause from an emotional and wholly admiring audience. They also sung their latest single, 'Loving You' which was sheer, heartfelt perfection. Honestly, it was a performance of pure, faultless beauty.



Jack and Harry finished their show with an encore of 'Bad Blood' and 'Monsters', their two more upbeat tracks off their latest EP, also named 'Monsters', as they said they needed to finish the night with something more up-lifting. Rosborough's drummer joined them on the stage to help add a bit more rhythm and oomph to their last two tracks. It was a really strong way to finish the night, giving the so far fairly silent audience, who had spent the whole night wrapped in their own memories of heartbreak and emotion, a chance to shake out their feelings and dance a little. The boys also revealed they're writing album number 2, which I, and every one else in the room, is impatiently awaiting!

Seafret transported and enthralled every single person at that sold out show, with their hypnotising serenades and stirring melodies. It was honestly such a special gig, as I imagine every one of theirs are, but it felt like such an honour to be in the room that night. As much as it brought back the shadow of former heartbreak, it was cathartic to hear those songs played live.

The night was truly such a raw and beautiful showcase of three incredibly skilled and committed acts. I loved the show so much for the simple reason that each of the artists were just that; artists. They played with such modest arrangements, no more than two instruments at a time, and still delivered three amazing performances. There was no fuss and no theatrics because there didn't need to be, true talent can stand all by itself and induce awe on a crowd. That's what Calum Spencer, Rosborough and Seafret each achieved that night.

Thank you so much to Seafret for letting me come along to the show, I am so thankful to have finally seen you guys play live. I cannot recommend their music enough and be sure to keep an ear out for their upcoming album, no doubt I'll shout about it when it's released!

See you all soon.

Holly


Callum Spencer:
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Rosborough:
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Seafret:
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