Review: Paloma Faith, Newmarket Nights
Heading to Newmarket at the end of a sweltering summer day, was lovely, catching the last two races of the evening while the sun slowly descended. People beginning to switch from watching the jockeys to staking their claims for the best spots to watch Paloma Faith on a stage overlooking the finishing post.
A quick introduction from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s Kev Lawrence, who also tee’d up the upcoming concerts as part of the Jockey Club Live events this summer at Newmarket’s July Racecourse.
Then Paloma came striding out on to the stage straight into Gold from Infinite Things, covering every inch of the stage in her jewel trimmed black dress and her long red “marigolds” (her words not mine), which came off halfway through the set full of sweat, but not heading to a website for someone to buy as she joked.
Her set worked through several newer songs, via a more intimate few acoustic versions including Stone Cold Sober, sat atop the piano towards the back of the stage. Before working towards her big “features that you’ll all know” as she told the crowd whilst sipping on a cuppa to soothe the vocal chords between songs.
The last four songs had the whole Newmarket crowd moving on the lawn, with Lullaby feeling a great song for a summer evening, dancing with her backing singers front and centre on the stage. Moving into the funky Can’t Rely On You, followed by the 2014 chart topping Changing, which picked up the last few not on their feet dancing.
Finally bringing the night to a close with the ballad Only Love Can Hurt Like This, whilst the crowd swayed with camera lights aloft.
When you only have a 90 minute slot and a catalogue spanning five studio albums, I’m sure some fans will have missed some of their favourites. However I’m certain they didn’t leave disappointed after a fantastic energetic show in a wonderful setting.
• Find out about other Newmarket Nights 2022 dates at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/newmarket/events-tickets/newmarket-nights/
Words & pictures, Stephen Keable for Ipswich24