Words and photos by: Lucy Williamson
On a mild, slightly stormy autumnal Thursday evening in London, the south steps of the Royal Albert Hall were filling with anticipation for Ziggy Alberts’ show that had sold out six months in advance! Rounding up his UK and European tour, Australian folk singer-songwriter Ziggy Alberts brought an ocean breeze to one of the world’s most iconic venues with support from Áine Deane and Nathan Ball, as well as a couple of special guests!
Áine Deane
Opening the evening, singer-songwriter Áine Deane took to the stage. Framed by the backdrop of the venue’s grand organ and glowing arches, Áine performed a mix of heartfelt songs, switching between her piano and guitar. She performed her recently released track Bones. As she performed, the crowd mirrored her sparkling sequinned and beaded dress, waving phone torches that flickered across the venue like stars. The acoustics echoed off the venue’s domed ceiling and were truly beautiful, creating a real warmth and calmness.
Nathan Ball
A wash of red lighting beams onto the stage ahead of the second support. Hailing from Cornwall, Nathan Ball filled the venue with his warming melodies, layered with synth beats and his acoustic guitar. He gave a nod to Ben Howard when he and Ziggy attended one of his concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, and how one day, they would love to play at this very venue. A dream that has now become a reality, which is a real testament to Nathan’s incredible musicianship.
Ziggy Alberts
Opening with a calm, spoken word recording from Ziggy himself, the crowd was filled with excitement, with possibly one of the happiest and wholesome crowds ever! After, golden glowing lights, almost like a sunset, lit up the stage as the first chords of Days in the Sun were played.
Ziggy expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone there and joked that, despite his haircut, he must be taken seriously at all times. The rules of the show also included taking care of each other and singing along if you knew the words. Renowned for his signature sun-drenched sound and heartfelt lyricism, he played early favourites such as Where Does The Love Go, prompting a crowd choir with thousands of people singing the lyrics from the chorus.
Between tracks, interludes with speeches echoed throughout the venue about caring for the environment and the beauty of the ocean. Midway through the set, Ziggy disappeared from the main stage and reappeared on the B stage by the sound desk for a more intimate set, performing an eclectic collection of tracks with saxophonist Ben Morgan.
Instead of running back to the main stage, Ziggy leapt into the crowd, acoustic guitar in hand, to perform an even more acoustic set of tracks, surrounded by fans singing along to his songs – a true highlight on the night. Special guest, Jo Hill, joined on stage for a stunning duet of Runaway. For the encore, Ziggy ran back on stage and kicked off with his new track, Cyclones, which was being released that night at midnight. He also invited Nathan Ball back on stage for a duet of letting go, where their harmonies seamlessly melted into each other and rippled through the venue.
To round up the night, Ziggy performed Laps Around The Sun. Every corner of the venue was glowing. From groups of friends dancing and singing arm-in-arm in floor standing to people clapping in the booths, and people creating phone torch constellations up in the gods beneath the arches. There was a real feeling of togetherness, no matter where you were in the venue. As the crowd favourite track came to an end, a huge round of applause and cheers roared through the Royal Albert Hall.
Ziggy was smiling throughout the concert, in awe of the ongoing support throughout the years. He expressed his genuine gratitude for doing this independently, and how the support for his music has wholeheartedly changed his life, saying: “We did it. We played to 50 people in Hackney 10 years ago, and now we’re playing the Royal Albert Hall”. It felt like a celebration of rounding up his 3 years of touring around the UK and Europe. Now onto New Zealand and Australia!
This concert was a truly special night, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and an event filled with community and togetherness. And if you get the opportunity to see any of these incredible live acts, do!
