EVENT REVIEW: Vocals and Verses [Summer Soul Special]

 

Vocals and Verses is an event that showcases some of the best music and poetry from some of the best up and coming artists around and it's fast becoming one my favorite events.

Concrete in Shoreditch was the venue for this month's showcase, featuring the talents of Jodie-Lee, Ink, Nia Barge, Leanne Robinson, YJ, LionHeart and JP Cooper. Hosted by popular presenter Kae Kurd, it was billed as a Summer Soul Special and it was, just that.

Nia Barge, was one highlight of the night. The American spoken word poet offers a female perspective on family, love and relationships. Her poem 'I'm Not Supposed To Be With You' is about the conflict between ideals of love and the realities of true love. The piece is funny and witty in its acute observation of the shallow reasons people use to dismiss the potential for true love.

Another high point of the show was when poet LionHeart took to the stage: you could almost feel the pulses of the predominantly female audience quicken, slightly. Wearing a slick suit this young poet's work is as smart as his dress sense.  He delivered a very confident and passionate performance, using clever word play to articulate complex perspectives on life. In the poem 'Lupus' he talks about the difficulty of witnessing a friend living with this disease. The crowd were gripped throughout his performance.

JP Cooper was the headline act of the night. This shy-seeming unassuming singer ascended the stage guitar in had and began playing a beautiful acoustic set. His voice is soft and soulful but it really resonates. Cooper's songs tell a story and on stage he is a comfortable performer, poised, relaxed and humble. He delivered a stunning set to the crowd  who listened attentively to every word and every note.  There was a queue of people (including me) waiting to buy a copy of his EP at the end of the show.



JP Cooper. Image from: citylife

The vibe at Vocals and Verses is always fantastic, the audience are very responsive this is, in part, due to the interactive features of the show: The Verse Off is where two volunteers from the audience take to the stage to rap or sing about a topic chosen randomly by the crowd. This part of the show is always hilarious and entertaining. Then there's the Open Mic section members of the audience can sign up and get 60 seconds to show their talent for poetry or singing.

Vocals and Verses promises to be a relaxed, intimate evening of great music, poetry and entertainment. It's safe to say that this is exactly what the crowd got.