Charity Gig

Lawson & Nina Nesbitt 

Indigo O2, 13th Feb 2014

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On Thursday night Lawson and Nina Nesbitt performed at Indigo O2 to help raise funds for the Charlton Athletic Community Trust and Help a Capital Child and Trust Youth Service Ambassador and Capital Breakfast presenter Dave Berry hosted the event.

Eager to take the stage for their first show of 2014 was headliners Lawson. Five headline tours and support slots with The Wanted, Jessie J and Avril Lavigne these four boys have been non-stop since their debut album Chapman Square. Marking the occasion with a bang Lawson told fans on social-networking site Twitter they would perform a new song.

In just seconds the crowd were putty in their hands as the beat to Juliet started and Adam Pitts, Joel Peat, Ryan Fletcher and lead singer Andy Brown took to the stage for a one hour set. Guitars riffs filled the venue as they blasted out their full catalogue of singles; When She Was Mine, Taking Over Me, Learn to Love Again and Standing in the Dark.

Getting into the Valentines spirit, Andy dedicated Learn to Love Again to anyone searching for love. Pulling on the crowd’s heart strings some more they continued with tracks from their repackaged album Chapman Sq II including Parachute, Love Locked Out, Brokenhearted and Back to Life.

 

Luckily having seen this band live 17 times it was easy to spot Back to Life was the new song. Despite being disappointed this was not exclusive new material, Lawson’s on stage presence brought this new addition alive.

The wait is almost over for 19-year-old Nesbitt as she is set to release her debut album Peroxide on Monday.  Complete with her staple blonde locks and guitar Nesbitt opened with her biggest hit single to date Stay Out.  The female equivalent of Ed Sheeran, this folksy half-Scottish, half Swedish beauty has the like-ability factor and then some.

Worlds away from her previous job at River Island, Nina explained she hated working in retail and hoped her next song would encourage people to pursue dreams.  Way of the World is an uplifting homage to finding her way as a singer but unfortunately the lyrics don’t hold enough substance for being inspirational.

Keen to showcase The Hardest Part in an intimate venue she warned the crowd she needed silence before she could proceed. With the room so silent you could hear a pin drop, she delivered a controlled yet delicate performance that the song deserves.

After previewing a few more new lighter tracks, Peroxide and Selfies, Nesbitt ended on a little festival number – Brit Summer.

Overall the evening was a success and hopefully Lawson, Nina Nesbitt and the rest of performers managed to hit, if not exceed, last year’s total of £60,000.