A glorious evening of soulfully melancholic, countrified pop-rock.
Katy J Pearson takes to Manchester’s New Century Hall tonight in support of her new record, Someday, Now. Doubling the size of the room since Gorilla hosted her last foray to the city in 2022; the leap in capacity speaks not only to the quality on display this evening, but to KJP’s broader trajectory over the last 24 months.
Support comes in the form of Vancouver singer-songwriter Dana Gavanski, who executes an impressive setlist split into two acts. The first, acoustic portion consists of Gavinski behind her piano, playing out a series of gorgeous ballads before the latter half sees her sling an electric guitar around her shoulders to belt out livewire bangers.
New Century Hall is filling slowly and the evening has a welcomingly low-key feel. It has been a huge week of gigs in Manchester and the room feels primed for something more intimate after gargantuan shows from the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Charli xcx shook the city in recent days.
Opening proceedings with ‘Those Goodbyes’, KJP is bathed in a warm white spotlight as she plays, it’s captivating from the off and impossible to tear yourself away from what’s on stage. the tone is intimate and vulnerable, as Pearson showcases her talent for making the sizeable space feel like the backroom of a West Country local. ‘Beautiful Soul’, ‘Grand Final’ and ‘Siren Song’ offer more wonderfully heartbreaking melancholia, and KJP’s stagecraft is beguiling.
Pearson’s voice is just as key an instrument as the Fender Acoustasonic around her neck: Pearson soars vocally when she needs to, while maintaining that vulnerability as required. A vastly underrated vocalist, seeing KJP perform with such vocal control is something to behold.
‘Talk Over Town’ is a highlight, as is ‘Take Back The Radio’, with the latter closing out the main show. There is something inherently festive about the whole affair: terrible weather wages on outside, but everyone in NCH is party to a glorious evening of soulfully melancholic, countrified pop-rock.
‘Hey You’ is a blinding opener for the encore as KJP takes it on solo. You could hear a plastic pint cup crumple, such is the silence afforded to Pearson during the solo portion of the show, before ‘Tonight’ and ‘Sky’ see out the evening. Someday, Now may have seen her rise up the ranks of the 6 Music playlist and graduate in venue sizes, but it still feels like the best is yet to come from Katy J Pearson.
featured image: Seren Carys
