Ziggy Alberts at the Royal Albert Hall
Folk singer Ziggy Alberts has been on the scene for over a decade, starting with humble busking routes in native Australia before subsequently forging a path as an independent artist. Tonight, “a special night”, he headlines the Royal Albert Hall as his next major milestone, touring his recent album New Love whilst celebrating the road of tracks that brought him here. The extensive show features over two hours of old favourites and new releases, successfully transporting the audience to the warm, sunny coast and leaving the cold London night by the door.
Just one barefoot man with a selection of guitars and a stomp box for the beat, it’s a flat-out musical multitask and impressive demonstration of raw talent and energy. This is a breath of fresh air: a refreshingly rare, simple setup going against the grain of increasingly over-produced artists. With music inspired by the environment and earth, this is a grounded performance you can sway and sing along to, further accompanied by lush ocean soundscapes and deep, thoughtful spoken word recordings between songs.
The performance opens with warmly received early tracks Days in the Sun and Hands I Can Hold, before new album song New Love and an introduction of show rules: “If you know the words…help me sing them tonight.” The audience understands the assignment for Where Does the Love Go, singing back in unison as directed by Alberts. He is clearly eager to connect with his fans, sharing frequent anecdotes and taking to a small B-stage at the back of the room for Outlaw. The magic truly happens when he makes his way to the very middle of the standing crowd for some of his most famous tracks, Warm Coffee and Gone (The Pocahontas Song), transforming the grand auditorium into an intimate throwback busking space.
Other highlights include Together, which garners a spontaneous flashlight takeover, as well as fan favourite Runaway, which introduces special guest performer Jo Hill. It could easily be a finale rendition, but an extended encore takes the night closer towards midnight. There’s a debut of new track Cyclones, hours before its official release, a duet of Letting Go with support act Nathan Ball and wholesome Laps Around the Sun to finish.
“This show is a feeling that we did it,” Alberts shares as he recollects his first London gig ten years ago in a Hackney cafe. It’s hard to disagree. The show runs a little long, but it’s a remarkable triumph for the former busker who has carved out a distinctly anchored sound with solid vocals, connected fan-base and above all, has achieved everything independently without compromise.
Bev Lung
Photos: Guifre de Peray
For further information and future events, visit Ziggy Alberts’s website here.
Watch the video for Cyclones here:
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