Ellie Goulding opens wither debut single “Under the sheets” a perfect song to set the tone for this intimate gig, organised by Radio One DJ Jo Whiley. Followed by crowd favourites, “The Writer” and “Guns and Horses”, Goulding and her band gave one strong solid performance after another, even when a PA failure forced her to wing it and sing without a mic.
Holding her own during both the quieter and more powerful songs, Goulding exuded such energy and passion that the gig was a definite success. Comfortable playing the guitar, singing solo, or banging the almighty life out of a tambourine, Ellie proved herself to be an authentic musician. Making the gig even more intimate was Goulding’s tendency to chat to the audience, wanting them to be as much a part of her evening as she is theirs. She seemed relaxed making small talk with the crowd, who she thanked continually for supporting her, not only on this evening, but throughout her career so far. She’s clearly grateful, and it’s nice, albeit a tad gushy, to hear such a heartfelt acknowledgement of the relationship between artist and fan.
Giving a fantastic rendition of her new single “Your Song”, Goulding closed the night with the enthusiastic drumming and joyous cheers which accompanied the second single off of her debut album Lights.
Supported by bands Tinashe and The Stornoway, the gig was a great success, one which proves why Goulding topped the Sound of 2010 poll, and walked away with the Critic’s choice award at this year’s Brits.