Saint Raymond at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Saint Raymond is the stage persona of gifted Nottingham born singer/songwriter Callum Burrows. Supported by an immensely talented and charismatic backing band, who help to convey his excitement through the whole night, a performance by Saint Raymond is a joyous and light-hearted affair. It being a Friday night, and with many members of his family in the audience, as well as dedicated fans who follow his gigs around the country, the atmosphere was wholly merry.

Saint Raymond has built up a steady and strong fanbase, with the packed audience singing back not just the choruses but full verses of multiple songs at him. They began chanting the repetitive chorus of I Want You at the mention of the first line of the song. The whole auditorium was buzzing and the blizzard of light flashes helped to whip the audience into a dance frenzy.

It helps that Raymond is not much older than his target audience, creating an outlet for angst and youthful folly in equal measure. Even in more sombre moments there is a hint of mischief about him, as though he doesn’t want you to dwell on the sadness, but find release in it.

He’s a young man at the start of his game, yet has a great talent for writing instantly recognisable hits. While at times his style is reminiscent of Ed Sheeran (who he has supported on tour), The Kooks and The 1975, his ability to effortlessly transition between sounds makes his versatility a strength. In the midst of it all, he is confidently carving out his own sound and it’s exciting to see him at this relatively early stage of his career and wonder where it might all lead.

With the summer festival season approaching, and gigs at multiple major festivals, the opportunity to see Saint Raymond let loose on a stage in a field is one not to be missed.

Yassine Senghor

For further information about Saint Raymond and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Young Blood here: