The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMusicLive music

Ghostpoet at the Hackney Empire

Ghostpoet at the Hackney Empire | Live review
30 October 2013
Sarah Edmonds
Avatar
Sarah Edmonds
30 October 2013

The Hackney Empire is alive with anticipation as Ghostpoet (Obaro Ejimiwe) enters the stage. He doesn’t disappoint.

Although Ghostpoet is the main attraction, his backing for the night is far from low-key. A full band is packed onto the stage and an array of lights floods the venue, providing a unique visual element.

The set opens to the thunderous beats of Gaaasp and Ghostpoet begins his intricate weaving of lyrics, proving that he is much more poet than rapper. There is no spontaneity in his performance: every reverberation seems meticulously planned, demonstrating his pure, artistic approach. Each song is expertly embellished, dressed up a little for the sake of performance; Cold Win ends in an epic whirl of electronica and in One Twos/Run Run Run a serious pace gives way to all-out funk.

His darkly melodic voice only breaks between songs as he thanks the audience graciously, as if surprised that anyone even turned up – though that’s not to say he doesn’t give a confident performance. He moves with the microphone as if it’s an extension of his hand, stopping only to scratch at his decks.

It’s a sincere set, notably due to Ghostpoet’s deep lyrics – there’s no need to resort to rapping about women, money and crime here. Liiines is given a suitably uplifting edge with the addition of strings, and a series of special guests (Etta Bond on Meltdown, Lizbet Sempa on Dial Tones and Fabiana Palladino on Survive It) add a lighter tone to Ghostpoet’s dark murmurings.

The audience are passionate too; there is a feeling of artistry in the Empire. People have come to witness rather than party, although with Cash and Carry Me Home Ghostpoet manages to rile the head-nodding hipsters into a semi-frenzy that has all three tiers of the Empire up and dancing.

Ending the set he professes “I love you London!” and the Empire reciprocates.

Sarah Edmonds
Photo: Erol Birsen

For further information and future events visit Ghostpoet’s website here.

Watch the video for Meltdown here:

Related Itemslive musicreview

More in Live music

Bicep at Saatchi Gallery Online

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More

Laura Mvula – Under a Pink Moon

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More

Tom Grennan live in concert – online

★★★★★
Georgie Cowan-Turner
Read More

The Cinematic Orchestra at the Southbank Centre

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Vienna New Year’s Day Concert at the Musikverein

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Rufus, Martha and Lucy Wainwright Present: A Not So Silent Night “Virtually Together”

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

Pete Tong and the Heritage Orchestra: Ibiza Classics – O Come All Ye Ravers at the O2 Arena Online

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Courtney Barnett live from the Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne

★★★★★
Georgie Cowan-Turner
Read More

Gorillaz: Song Machine Live

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Creation Stories
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild
    Theatre
  • Laura Mvula – Under a Pink Moon
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Back to the Wharf
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • I’m Your Man (Ich bin dein Mensch)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • We (Nous)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Language Lessons
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Moon, 66 Questions
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • We (Nous)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Bicep at Saatchi Gallery Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Winter Lake
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality
    Food & Drinks
  • Da Capo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Goldheart Assembly at Islington Assembly Hall | Live review
The Dumb Waiter at the Print Room | Theatre review