Lulu James brings funk and fun to first London show

Ever since the sensual, dulcet tones of ‘Be Safe’ came pouring out from the near-faultless Black Butter Records, we were smitten with Lulu James.

Describing herself as ’21st Century Soul’, it seems about right for this energetic Geordie, and her first London show at Dalston’s Birthdays came on the wave of support slots with the contemporary queen, Jessie Ware, no less. Indeed, Lulu James produces a clever mix of soul and new-garage, with the help of increasingly sought-after producer Dave Okumu, placing her somewhere neatly between Ware and AlunaGeorge.

Proving herself quite the show-woman, she emerges onto the small stage shrouded in a hood, revealing only some impressive knee-high boots and a chain-clad tunic. The opening track is atmospheric and oozes charisma before she removes the cloak, smiles and welcomes the packed basement with her friendly Newcastle twang. Slipping in and out of character throughout the set, she natters about how ‘cool’ Dalston is before slipping into ‘Be Safe’, which is given a live make-over with dancing drums added punch. “Guess what? I look cooler!”, she jokes – and it’s true.

‘The End’ shows how capable she is of producing proper hits and sounds like an uplifting single ready for this Summer that may or may not be arriving. We are treated to a brand new track, ‘Hey’, that not even her label have heard before her current single, intuitively remixed by tonight’s support Brolin, blasts out and provides a major highlight. Surrounded by an effortlessly impressive band, the closing track breaks down into a thrashing jam adding a welcome touch of heaviness.

Promising that an album will arrive as soon as she is entirely happy with it, Lulu James has entirely justified the buzz surrounding her and, on tonight’s evidence, the album will be worth the wait.

Set List
Now The World
Date
Be Safe
Falling
The End
Hey
Closer
Halfway To Hell

Photograph by George O’Brien.