Nao brought her Saturn tour to a sold out main room at Digbeth’s Institute tonight. Before she even took to the stage, there was a real sense of occasion in the venue as the Friday night crowd sang along to the pre show playlist of R&B cuts.
The East London soul singer surprised by appearing on a raised platform in the centre of the floor to sing the opening song, “Another Lifetime”. It was immediately clear that there was a lot of love in the room for her as every person sang along as if this was a gigantic No1 single. Nao oozes star quality and her voice is even stronger and more unique live than on record.
Three more of her biggest songs followed –
“If You Ever, Make It Out Alive” and “Fool To Love”. Opening with four singles when you only have two albums is a bold move and it certainly paid off tonight as the energy in the room was palpable from the start and did not ease off for the rest of the show.
This felt like a very special show – one of those rare moments of a perfect crowd enjoying the right artist at the right time. It was a faultless and relentless show. Nao’s unstoppable energy boosted by a brilliant live band and audience fully aware that they were in the presence of greatness.
There is a real sense that Nao should be bigger – one of the greatest live vocals you will hear and a perfect live show that takes in an extensive array of genres and influences and yet her magnificent second album, “Saturn” missed the top 50 in the UK. Nao addresses this tonight and says that she feels super successful and could not wish for more success. Perhaps the lack of chart hits helps in some respects – everyone at the show tonight is there for the body of work rather than because of 1 or 2 radio hits.
This was an exceptional show from one of the greatest British musical talents right now. The two Mura Masa collaborations,, “Complicated”and Firefly, close the main set with everyone dancing. The call for an encore is thunderous and one of the loudest I have come across in a very long time.
Nao and band return for a roaring rendition of album cut, “Drive” and “Disconnect”, and a mass sing a long of her most well known song, “Bad Blood”. It’s been soulful, funky, beautiful, mesmerising and powerful.
Nao is at the peak of her powers and it is exciting to consider what she might achieve if we all get behind her.
