Review: Paloma Faith, Thetford Forest
The Forest Live series of concerts have been running for over 20 years now, bringing some of the biggest names into Thetford Forest time after time. This year has already seen Bryan Adams and Sting take to the stage at High Lodge. On Thursday 27th June Paloma was the third headliner of this year’s run with Tom Jones and Olly Murs to complete the line up next.
She was supported by Hackney friend Kojey Radical, who she has known since he was 8 years old. He performed some of his tunes including Gangsta and War Outside (which would ironically have jets flying overhead to one of the nearby bases) to a crowd that might not be that used to soulful hip-hop, even if they have heard him on Paloma’s new album already.
As the sun had almost dropped behind the trees Paloma came on to the stage and opened with two songs off the new Glorification of Sadness LP, then spoke to the crowd about how the album and her new book touch on her disappointment at some of the men in her life and how young men should read the book and thank her when their marriage lasts more than 10 years.
She really does pull you in and make you feel like you’re all friends sharing some stories, new and old songs, and being honest that her voice is suffering a bit, while sipping some tea to soothe her throat. The night flies by, with fans waving arms in the air and singing back to her with new songs like Eat Sh*t and Die and old ones like Upside Down in equal measure.
Around the halfway point of the night Kojey came back to the stage to perform their song, Pressure, live for the first time together.
Through the set she performed fan favourites Stone Cold Sober, Gold, Upside Down and even Crybaby, a personal favourite, which didn’t make it into her set at Newmarket a couple of years ago, however sits well with some of the new songs. Finishing with a pair of Sigma tunes and the mega ballad of Only Love Can Hurt Like This.
Review and pictures, Stephen Keable, for Ipswich24 Magazine