It’s the hottest day of the year in Manchester, but Idehen is an ice cold picture of unbothered cool.
It’s the tail end of a balmy day in Manchester: the sun has dipped behind glass skyscrapers and old school boozers alike, cool air snakes around the streets as the breeze whips sweat away from Mancunian brows. The coolest place in the Northern Quarter tonight is Band On The Wall, as it plays host to a night of mindful protest poetry, in the shape of Joshua Idehen.
From minute one, the showmanship on display tonight is dazzling: Idehen emerges in a splendid matching paisley linen set and encourages the room to bring the noise. Apparently displeased, Idehen insists on a more vociferous welcome as he exits the stage (don’t worry, the man is far from a diva – it’s all done with his tongue firmly in his cheek). He bounds back on, sunglasses reflecting the stage lights to a cacophony. This time he’s satisfied, and the duo break into a modified cover of Talking Heads’ ‘Once In A Lifetime’.
Immediately people are moving and grooving – Idehen’s music man, Ludvig Parment, is a blur behind his equipment. Deft touches of a slider or a button blast Band On The Wall with everything from deep house to raucous jungle. All accompanied by a soul enriching poem from Idehen. The duo take residency in the smaller room at BoTW, with the tight stage surrounded on three of four sides with velvety red curtains – it gives the impression that Idehen is performing his prose in Twin Peaks’ Black Lodge, and Idehen’s shadow is projected behind him, mirroring his every move like a third band member.
Idehen is on top form: dancing and moving, instructing the crowd to sing along, hum, wave and even pause to shake each others hands with positive affirmations. His works cover love, loss, grief, laundry and class struggle in one huge danceable swoop. ‘Mum Does The Washing’ is a brilliant moment and the packed room sways along with the enigmatic performer. It’s the hottest day of the year in Manchester, but Idehen is an ice cold picture of unbothered cool – it is utterly impossible to tear your eyes away from him, such is his magnetism.
‘Learn to Swim Part II’ is yet another highlight, ‘I Got You Every Step of The Way’ is fantastic, with Idehen once again bringing the crowd together to act as his backup singers. We close out with a reprise of the Talking Heads cover, with every single soul in the room bouncing, singing and throwing some of the best shapes BoTW has ever seen. Idehen struts around the stage as Ludwig bops from behind his DJ equipment – the two are like an alternative universe Sleaford Mods who you might actually want to hang out with.
It’s a simply glorious evening – Idehen blasts Manchester with soul enriching, feel good poetry (not to forget Ludwig’s beat mastery). It is utterly impossible to see a show like this and leave without a beaming, Idehen-esque grin.
