Lewis Capaldi – Divinely Inspiring On The Yorkshire Coast

Scarborough Open Air Theatre, 30 August 2019

Lewis Capaldi, the singing sensation of year, made his second sell-out appearance at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre on the final weekend of the 2019 season. Even before the release of his first album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent in the spring, demand for his appearance at the East Coast venue was so great a second show was added to his initial date in July.

And such is the talent of the 22-year old Scottish singer-songwriter, his appeal extends beyond the predictable teenage fans to music lovers of all ages, a true sign of emerging greatness.

Lewis arrived on stage behind a curtain of blinding light and confetti and launched straight into his album’s opening number, and his first hit single from 2018, Grace. The night included all the tracks from his album and, in his own amusing and self-effacing way, he admitted his surprise at his success.

“My debut album came out a couple of months ago,” he said, “and the response has been incredible! Thank you, it went to Number 1 and stayed there for 6 weeks. You never know how well it is going to do. I’m always amazed that people want to hear something from my little chubby face!

“It’s good to be back in Scarborough. This is the second of two nights we have done here this summer. I see happy faces everywhere, and it makes me smile – I am making so much money!”

The set continued with more tracks from his album, a powerful collection of songs often laden with the pain and anguish which must surely come from personal experience. Throughout the set he lays bare his soul with a sincerity straight from the heart, of which Maybe is typical.

‘How come I’m the only one who gets in my way? Lately, I’ve been f*****g up a good thing any chance I can get,’ he reflects, looking inwardly towards the source of all his angst? Certainly the pain and heartbreak that he portrays in his songs is completely at odds with his madcap YouTube videos. Perhaps he is right. Perhaps the man behind the songs is difficult to live with.

After suggesting that the album was not long enough to include all the songs he wanted, the band left Lewis alone on stage with his guitar to sing an older song Rush before his long-standing keyboard companion Aiden Halliday joined him for the highly emotional Bruises. As Lewis’s rasping vocal fell silent, a round of applause was met with a rye smile from the stage. “I appreciate that, but the song’s not finished, so shut up!” he retorted.

Lewis also thanked his support artists including Charlotte from Hull and popular Bridlington duo Seafret who had previously given Lewis his first opportunity to tour, a few years back, as their support.

“This is the ‘last’ song,” he quipped, ahead of his latest hit Hold Me While You Wait. “You know how it goes. I sing my second best song then go off and come back and play my best song for the proper last song.”

As the 8,000 capacity venue rang to chants of his name, Lewis returned for a well deserved encore and thanked everyone for their support. “This is my last summer show,” he said, “so it’s special. It’s been a mad year. Life is now so much different, now, to how it was at the start of the year.” With that he led a huge sing-a-long of his world-wide smash hit, the emotionally charged Someone You Loved.

A divinely inspired performance throughout, delivered with heart-felt passion and interspersed with his wicked sense of humour. The world is now at Lewis Capaldi’s feet.

Lewis heads to the US for a series of autumn dates before he returns for more sell-out shows at home including dates in Manchester and Sheffield. If you have a ticket, congratulations, you are in for a special treat!

Set List

Grace
Forever
Don’t Get Me Wrong
One
Maybe
Rush
Bruises
Lost On You
Headspace
Hollywood
Fade
Hold Me While You Wait

ENCORE

Someone You Loved