Shura at Bush Hall

Filling the contained stage of the former dance hall with ease, Shura marked her return to London with the opening of two shows at Bush Hall. “Being a lesbian and playing Bush Hall is the honour of my life,” she joked early on, equal parts tongue-in-cheek and heartfelt, before thanking her palpably attentive audience. Most of the show’s material was drawn from her latest album, I Got Too Sad for My Friends, which took centre stage. Arriving six years after Forevher, the tracks reflected a notable shift in sound and tone: quieter, slower, and more inward-looking. Describing Recognise – the first single released from the album – as “a very ‘in your 30s’ anthem,” she performed the contemplative, dreamy ballad with lyrics that nod to domestic rituals under a steady, soft wash of blue lights.

The self-descriptive World’s Worst Girlfriend required no further explanation, while Online was introduced with a playful nod to the pandemic: “Some of you may know this chair,” she said, pointing to the unassuming piece of furniture beside her and explaining that it had appeared in the Twitch streams she hosted during lockdown, prompting knowing shouts from the crowd. “Maybe seven of you recognise it – but I promised I’d bring it for you, and to confuse everyone else.” 

Before launching into I Wanna Be Loved By You, she quipped, “We’re just gonna workshop this.” Unhurried and less dreamy than her usual work, the song leaned into an old-fashioned choral style – one that felt noticeably more powerful in a live setting. 

Another nod to the venue came with 2Shy, as she shared, “I’ve always wanted to sing this song here – you’ll see in verse two.” Sure enough, a lyrical reference to Uxbridge Road, where Bush Hall is located, earned cheers from the room. Her voice held steady throughout the set, shining especially in the old favourite Religion, where she floated through airy falsetto notes with ease. She closed with Bad Kid, a wistful, folk-tinged composition full of modern reflections – an understated yet fittingly intimate final note to her long-anticipated homecoming.

Christina Yang
Photos: Nick Bennett

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

Watch the video for the single World’s Worst Girlfriend here: