ShareBen McKelvey performs at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Sunday 28th February 2016
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Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
If you are wanting to catch a young exciting artist, who is on the cusp of a tremendous career, then go and see Ben McKelvey. At the Motorpoint Arena last night many took this opportunity and were not disappointed.
Coming onto the stage with his friends, Matt on bass, Paul on guitar and Mark on a box as opposed to drums, McKelvey thanked the many who had turned out early to give him a listen. With a set that was stripped back and very brave, he opened with Happy Together, a track from his debut album, Life And Love In England.
This very upbeat opener was quickly followed by his current single, Morning I’m Gone, which showcased his great vocals, even though he admitted to having lost his voice when he woke that morning. To be honest you would never have known as he belted out his meaningful lyrics in Stay Young; a love song with a tremendous rocky beat.
Writing about life as he sees it, this 27 year old is clearly very talented. His engaging personality shone through and although this stage must have been the biggest he has performed on to date, there was not a shred of evidence of nerves.
Treating us to a track from his earlier EP, Everything You Were Meant To Be, Sunday had another rocky feel that Bruce Springsteen would have been proud of.
With a set that was simply not long enough, it finished with a frantic flourish. McKelvey’s album has reached number six in the iTunes singer songwriter chart and from the snippets that we heard last night, it is a well deserving place.
From playing local pubs to this arena stage, McKelvey’s career is going in the right direction. With his engaging personality, thought provoking lyrics and fabulous guitar playing, it will not be too long before he is playing to venues in his own right, leaving those pubs well and truly behind him.
