One of the strangest full-circle moments was that the artist who introduced me to Loyle was the very artist supporting him on this tour- Rejjie Snow. And what a beautiful opening performance it was. Playing hits like ‘23’ and ‘Egyptian Luvr’, Rejjie took the crowd by surprise and warmed us up perfectly for what was to come. As I stood there in a crowd of mostly students wearing their fresh tour merch, I waited, almost nervously, for what I already knew would be one of the best nights of my life.
Opening with ‘all i need’ was the perfect choice. It united the room instantly, every person in that space connected by an artist who genuinely loves his craft. Guitarist Raquel Martins absolutely shone, and I’ve since been encouraged to properly explore her solo work. ‘in my mind’ followed; it felt right that the first two songs were the pair that kickstarted the hopefully ! era.
Then came a jump back to debut album Yesterday’s Gone (2017), a classic moment that set the tone for the set’s journey through his discography: ‘Ain’t Nothing Changed’ reminded me, as it always does, how clearly you can trace Loyle’s evolution across each album. ‘Yesterday’ followed, his 2020 Madlib-produced single, which it stood out as one of the brightest moments of the night. ‘Damselfly’, featuring frequent collaborator Tom Misch, carried that early Loyle nostalgia that feels like a warm memory. ‘horcrux’ came next, complete with Loyle’s now-customary (and very necessary) disclaimer: “I love Harry Potter, but not J.K. Rowling.”
‘Desoleil (Brilliant Corners)’ featuring Sampha slowed the pace down, with that beautiful closing line, “Couldn’t see you were deeply in love with me” screamed back from the audience. ‘Homerton’ followed, dedicated to the NHS on both nights, featuring JNR Williams and Olivia Dean, a raw and emotional highlight from hugo that explores his relationship with his father and his son. ‘Nobody Knows (Ladas Road)’ took me straight back to one of my earliest experiences writing for The Courier, my first-year album review of hugo, a review that still means so much to me.
The standout moment of both nights was ‘lyin’. Loyle removed his earpiece so he could hear the crowd properly, taking in every word as we sang it back. On the first night he told us he’d only experienced a reaction like that once before, and it genuinely felt like something rare. He mentioned that he sings the song to his children, which gave the moment a new kind of weight. As phone lights swayed across the venue, the entire room softened into complete stillness.
'purpose’, with Navy Blue, opened the door to my favourite run of the evening. ‘Still’ arrived quietly, a song close to Ben (Loyle Carner), and his mention of anxiety gave it an intimacy that settled over the room. ‘Loose Ends’ followed, Jorja Smith’s presence lingering even in her absence, before that gentle outro folded into ‘Ice Water’. I don’t think I’ll ever get over hearing those three in a row. When the crowd sang “Right now it’s better than it’s ever been”, it felt like the moment the entire night exhaled: a small, perfect expression of what love can be.
‘Speed of Plight’ pushed the energy back up before the main set briefly paused. Before performing ‘about time’, he spoke about time itself, how becoming a father reshaped his sense of presence and patience. It was one of those moments where the room felt like it was listening to him think in real time.
‘Ottolenghi,’ his first release following Yesterday’s Gone, was another stand-out. The food thread has always run through his life and work, especially with his “Chili Con Carner” cooking school for kids with ADHD, something he’s spoken about with such care. When the opening notes hit, the crowd lit up instantly. He slipped his earpiece out again just to hear us properly as we sang Jordan Rakei’s chorus back at him, a small gesture, but it made the room feel closer, like he was trying to take everyone in at once.
After the encore, Ben returned to the stage to perform a poem he’s been working on. At his core, he truly is a poet, and watching the whole room fall silent for him felt incredibly intimate. He ended the night with ‘A Lasting Place’, the perfect closing note to a beautiful, moving, unforgettable show.
Even though the setlist didn’t change across both nights, it didn’t need to. It was the perfect culmination of everything he’s ever created. And as the crowd spilled out into the freezing, pouring Newcastle rain, everyone buzzing and shivering and smiling at once, it was impossible not to feel warm. Two nights with Loyle Carner. And I’d do it all again.