Newton Faulkner // Octopus Live Tour // Live Review // The Limelight // Belfast
I’m back! At The Limelight in the heart of Belfast City Centre on a seriously wet school night! I was here just last night for a very different night’s entertainment, featuring three killer stateside bands who delivered unadulterated rock and metal! Tonight, however, will be a very different affair; tonight, we have one of the UK’s finest singer/songwriters in the form of Newton Faulkner.
Newtown came to my attention like so many with the release of his debut album ’Handbuilt By Robots’ all the way back in 2007, and that seismic track ‘Dream Catch Me’ as it opened up a world of percussive guitar playing that I’d never quite heard before. It introduced me to a world of players that captured the imagination and flooded my iPod (Yes, I am THAT old) with a mind-boggling array of albums to keep this manner happy. All were great, of course, but there was only one Newton Faulkner. Newton’s ability to fuse his technical ability as a stellar acoustic guitar player, who, as I mentioned previously, opened up a world with his percussive approach, he was also a majestic vocalist, who was able to translate the beautiful melody written on the guitar into glorious, emotive songs that anyone with a musical ear could appreciate.
He realistically was probably well ahead of his time and laid the foundation for the likes of Ed Sheeran, who followed in 2011 and took the world by storm, armed with only an acoustic guitar and a loop station. Newton, for me, has his own musical voice; his vocal range and songwriting nuances make him stand out in the crowd, so it’ll be great to capture him once again live and appreciate what made the hairs on my arms stand on end all those years ago.
Just after 8:15, Newton takes to the stage, unassuming and takes his spot in the centre surrounded by acoustic guitars and a drum pad/sequencer, and he starts playing …. Behind him, 12 light bars that constantly change colour provide ambience to the show as Newton treats us to a plethora of his magical tunes. Each time, taking the opportunity to chat with the audience and share stories of life on and off the road, you’re reminded just how personable he is.
That itself is a lost art these days, so many artists are happy to be on stage with a persona in place, but aren’t so comfortable revealing the person behind the mask, not Newton … you get the complete package as he lets you into his work and thought process. But when he plays those “Old School”
Classics, it makes my hair stand on end again. ‘I don’t mind’ was just glorious to hear in the flesh again, live and up close and personal. Followed by ‘Teardrops’ by Massive Attack, just sublime. When he hits those high notes, his voice soars; it truly is a thing of beauty!
The highlight of the night has to be ‘Dream Catch Me’ O’Clock! When he announces it’s time for his biggest hit to date, and he finds Belfast in fine voice, as I am sure he does every city he ventures into with this tune, but Belfast sounds particularly good this evening, if I may say so myself. Though it may b his best known track the set is packed with glorious tunes. His voice is just amazing to experience in a small venue such as this, The Limelight 1 is not small by any means as it holds 900-1000 people but opposed to an arena where you can sometimes feel lost amongst a sea of people, this right here is my happy place, experiencing an artist of this calibre is just magical.
As the night builds to a crescendo with Newton flexing his musical muscles with an awe-inspiring collection of songs on his electric guitar creating the wildest sounds, I can’t help but think that tonight was possibly the best vocal display I’ve heard this year, and believe me I’ve covered some amazing singers but Newton Faulkner has the most pure vocals I’ve heard in quite a while, mesmerising from start to finish, tonight was good for the soul. For a guy who spends most of the year at rock and metal gigs, I always appreciate a palette cleanser and a break from the norm. This is precisely what was needed to recharge the batteries and restore my faith in music. Watching Newton beaming with a smile like a Cheshire Cat all night, it must be a fantastic feeling to move so many people with your music. Long may it continue, nights like this feed the soul and make it all worthwhile.
Photography: Mark McGrogan
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