LYTHAM FESTIVAL PRESENTS, DAY 2 GEORGE EZRA, CAT BURNS, THE BIG MOON, KINGFISHR Thursday 29th June 2023

July 6, 2023
UK Concert Reviews
by Billy Seagrave Photographer/Writer

Tonight is a showcase of music of the present that has brought in the fans of the future.

The opening band for tonight’s proceedings are hotly tipped Irish folk band Kingfishr, they have been the support for George Ezra on many shows on his tour. I must confess of all the artists on the bill for this year’s festival, Kingfishr is the only band I know nothing about, so I am intrigued and looking forward to their performance. with that said I must confess I have done a little homework on the three piece, Eddie, McGoo and Fitz all met whilst in college in Limerick, and they describe themselves as a mix of Mumford And Sons, U2 and Snow Patrol, nice.

As the band take to the stage, a healthy crowd has already gathered, Lead singer and guitarist, Edmund, “Eddie”, Keogh, thanks the crowd for coming out so early and they jump straight into “Heart In The Water”, and I was taken back, the song is about mortality, and the fleeting nature of life, it had beautiful Celtic undertones and the simplistic portrayal of the lyrics are amplified by Eddie’s voice, vocally as deep as the lyrics, not for a long time have a band instantly grabbed my attention.

The connection with the crowd is instant and effortless, their style of music is indie folk, with a cinematic and atmospheric quality. They also incorporate elements of traditional Irish music, such as the banjo and the concertina, “Flowers-Fire is not only catchy but also emotive and relatable.

I do not doubt that there is a big future ahead for these 3 lads. Do yourself a favour and seek them out, not many artists can take to a stage and deliver a set that holds the crowd in their collective hands with total awe. My little gem of a find.

After Kingfishr I take my eyes off the stage and look around, today does seem to see a real mixture of ages, a lot of couples and families, so from the young to the old, Lytham does appeal to all ages, families, singles, couples and of course throw in the Ezra effect, and it is wonderful to see.

Next to come to the stage is The Big Moon, a British indie rock band formed in London in 2014. The band consists of four members: Juliette Jackson (vocals and guitar), Soph Nathan (vocals and guitar), Celia Archer (vocals and bass), and Fern Ford (vocals and drums).

They waste no time in getting into their stride with an energetic performances, full of catchy melodies, and powerful harmonies. They dip their collective musical inspiration from a range of genres, including indie rock, punk, and pop. In the past they have supported such bands as the Vaccines and the Pixies, they were tight and on. it in front of an appreciative crowd.

There is a slight chill in the air as our next artist takes to the stage, another performer that engages the crowd from start to finish. Catherine Burns aka Cat Burns is a British singer-songwriter. She has gained recognition for her soulful voice, captivating stage presence, and ability to blend pop, R&B, and electronic elements in her music. Opening with “Ghosting”, which receives a great reception from what seems to be a growing fanbase, Cat is one of those rare performers in that she has this beautiful and engaging voice, she also possesses the ability to tell a story and how she has written a song and narrate this into her performance.

“Sober.” is soulful in sound with poignant introspective lyrics. other stand-out songs for me were “Just Us” and “Cheater,” which really did showcase her versatility as an artist.

As I look out over the packed crowd, there is a real buzz, lots of parents already have their children upon their shoulders all excitingly waiting for tonight’s headliner George Ezra, im sure for many this is their first taste of a live performance.

Taking to the stage with a full band and a brilliant electronic backdrop, Ezra enters the fray, as usual, he is all smiles showing his enigmatic personality and his appreciation for the crowd and their support, Ezra has released three albums, “Wanted on Voyage”, “Staying at Tamara’s” and his latest album, “Gold Rush Kid”. and tonight he would play tracks across all three. Throughout tonight’s performance its clear he loves that interaction with the crowd, telling stories sharing anecdotes, and giving the show a real personal touch, he is backed by a brilliant band and backing singers of the highest quality, and they are an integral part of tonight performance, as you would expect the whole night was a real singalong, with a string of hits, such as “Budapest,” “Cassy O,” “Blame It on Me,” and “Paradise.” how could it not be.

There was a little panic at the end as the lights went down, loud whispers of, “he has got to play it ” “he’s got to play Shotgun” “I hope he plays it”, “he has too”, and much to everyone’s enjoyment and relief yes he came back and he played it, what a way to end the set.

As the curtain comes down on night 2 and the fans make their way home, tonight has been about the present and the future, one that has been shared by 20,000 like-minded fans. Brilliant stuff.