Loyle Carner | Royal Albert Hall, London | 06/10/23 (Live Review)

Loyle Carner rallies together 5,000 fans at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall to re-imagine his Mercury Prize-nominated album, hugo. A one-night-only performance which coincided with his 29th Birthday and the announcement that this would be his first live album.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

“…this is the most expensive Birthday party I’ve ever thrown” says Loyle Carner, smiling, as he adjusts a party hat gifted from the crowd. For the next hour or so, Royal Albert Hall was going to be his party venue. And one hell of a party it would be.

Selling out in minutes, Loyle Carner, known off-stage as Ben, announced a spontaneous show at the iconic Royal Albert Hall just four weeks ahead of the event. Opening originally in 1871, the Roman-style four walls has been home to some of the greatest performances of all time – often creating career-defining moments for bands, artists and performers.

It makes sense to see the musician take to the stage of the Hall, three albums in and 12 months of touring, making appearances at Glasto and headlining Wembley. It’s a tour which will continue for another month.

This show is to be different; playing through hugo in a re-imagined format (strings and all) alongside a collection of catalogue favourites.

Mercury Prize nominated album ‘hugo’ dropped in the Autumn of last year (2022), the same day Arctic Monkeys dropped ‘The Car’ and Taylor ‘Midnights’. It’s an album filled with loss, despair and pain, but equally brimming with hope, optimism and reflection. It’s the album that solidified my love for his work, and was buzzing to grab a ticket to what would be something unique and experimental.

His special night began with album-opener Hate, a track which eloquently narrates what Carner… hates, touching on fame, money, childhood, religion and in his words ‘f**king time’.

Immediately we’re introduced to the orchestral soundtrack behind the 29-year-old MC. And not too far in front, a giant circular light display, spotlighting the artist and twisting in a sun-light manner.

That same circular sun would continue to flourish with colour, imagery and light into the next song, Plastic, and throughout the rest of the performance. Ain’t Nothing Changed and Georgetown came up next, every word being hurled back at Carner before jumping into a throwback with Desoleil.

After an honourable mention towards good-friend and long-time collaborator Tom Misch, Carner packs Angel and Damselfly back to back to the crowd’s delight, as they scream ‘for f*ck sake’ right on cue. A moment in the set so good, only Misch appearing in person could’ve topped it. Following Yesterday, the 5000-strong Friday night audience threw Carner a Birthday hat, before singing a rendition of Happy Birthday as banners flew from the balconies. “This is the most expensive Birthday Party I’ve ever thrown” says Loyle, laughing.

One of the set highlights was Blood On My Nikes, a track that addresses the root causes of the knife crime epidemic sweeping the streets of London and rightfully the inequality in society. Not only was it performed beautifully, with the set turning a darker shade of red, but it also got the ending it deserved, true to the album.

Youth activist and MP Athian Akec was one of many guest appearances, reciting his 2-minute House of Commons speech. It felt particularly thought-provoking and evermore poignant as just one-song prior it was announced this would be a live album.

An announcement which had previously come bundled with nervousness and reluctance, but tonight, confidence was exuding Carner and nothing was to stop him.

After a few ‘F*ck the Tories’ chants had died down, Carner himself even partaking, he reminisced about the moment Athian told him in the studio he always had two choices; ‘be relevant or revolutionary’.

Continuing more of hugo, Nobody Knows was next, followed by oldie Still. As we reached Loose Ends, Ice Water and A Lasting Place, it was truly apparent the meteoric rise that Loyle Carner has experienced over 10 years. There wasn’t one bad track – a solid catalogue worthy of these walls.

Reaching the final three songs, Speed Of Plight quickly picked up the pace, lighting up the venue with a blue glimmer. The crowd were embracing every second, smiles broadcasting from most faces, each knowing what they were seeing.

Whereas HGU took a darker turn before ending on a hopeful note. Carner reflected on the relationship with his father, telling us how he decided to forgive him, and pass the positivity up the chain, supporting his Dad with the tools he never had.

This was but one moment of reflection for the artist tonight, also talking about a bright future for his son, someone who won’t fall prey to toxic masculinity in the way he almost did.

HGU was a beautiful way to end the hugo re-imagining segment. It’s one of the first tracks I truly discovered from Carner, and really resonated with his words. After a standing ovation, that had technically lasted the entire show already, he asked if we wanted one more. You know what the crowd said already – as the circular set raised to the highest point, beaming yellow.

Ottolenghi closed the evening, a track all about being in the moment, the perfect ending to a special night. Bringing on stage Jordan Rakei, picture it – crowd singing every word, room glowing orange and the sun high in the sky. This was the endpoint, we had made it ‘all the way from the sun’.

:: Round-Up ::

There is nobody who deserved a shot at Royal Albert Hall more than Loyle Carner this year, his rise to where he is today is a testament to 10 years graft. It was a night which will be remembered by all 5000 lucky attendees, and passed on through the live album.

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