Jade Helliwell has quite a
backstory that seemingly everybody knows, but not everybody knows the backstory
before the backstory! Despite gaining
almost instant fame from the 2017 viral video (23 million views and counting)
Jade was in fact already recording and releasing music, the video was just a
leg up, the additional exposure she needed.
With this in mind, it was great to see that Jade chose to give the same
chance to other artists on her Heroes and Heroines headline tour, inviting
artists to submit a video of them covering one of Jade’s songs with a chance to
open the show at one of the six dates across the UK.
We went to the second night
of the tour – which opened in Manchester – at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham
city centre. An intimate venue, the
performance space is downstairs, evoking old school club vibes, the perfect
place to watch upcoming artists, and being able to say “I was there”. The whole crowd can say “I was there” for
Jades (surprisingly) first ever headline show in Birmingham, although she has
played the city previously as part of other shows.
Opening at both the Birmingham
and Manchester shows was Staffordshire singer/songwriter Emily Lockett,
whose video submission had hugely impressed Jade and her team. If there were any pre-show nerves they didn’t
show on stage as Emily played a selection of her own material, sharing some
stories behind them, including the song that was apparently inspired by a Tik
Tok video about a newspaper crush column – “Don’t judge me” added Emily,
which is typical of her disarming charm when addressing the crowd. Emily filled her 20 minutes with songs and
stories, and no doubt winning some new fans along the way.
Support for the whole tour
comes from Brighton based Gina Larner.
Taking to the stage with just her guitar (and some fabulous boots!) Gina
gave a stunning performance, backed – as she put it – by some new toys in the
form of backing instrumentals and vocals, so that the lone singer on stage was
giving an almost full band performance!
Gina has been working hard this year having had her own headline shows
and is now on her second support tour in a matter of months! Despite this gruelling schedule she was full
of energy on stage and is clearly really enjoying herself touring with Jade!
Jade came to the stage
looking every inch the seasoned performer, in a bright and sparkling outfit – demonstrating
her collaboration with official fashion partner The Bluebird Boutique. The opening song grabbed everyone’s attention
– the very fitting, anthemic Woman I Am.
The familiar band line up (Luke Thomas, Phil Donnelly and Luke Barrett)
had a surprising addition – Laura Oakes has joined the tour on acoustic guitar
and backing vocals. This welcome
addition maybe due to Laura writing one of the songs on the set list, but
equally might be due to her recent marriage to drummer Luke!
Not only did Jade treat us
to her well-known songs – Drive, Smoke and award-winning Boom
Tick, but we also heard some earlier, very country songs!
The band left the stage,
with just Laura Oakes remaining to accompany Jade on acoustic guitar for the
plaintive Telephone before Jade gave her solo rendition of Numb/How
Love Goes.
Reminding us that the tour
is about Heroes and Heroines Jade was rejoined by Phil Donnelly taking over the
acoustic guitar duties for a heartfelt tribute to two musical heroines – Judy Garland
and Eva Cassidy with Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
After a few more songs with the
band the show was all too soon at its end.
No fake encores from Jade, and only one choice to close – a stunning
rendition of the titular Heroes and Heroines brought down the curtain on
a first – but surely not last – Birmingham headline show. Jade is not only a great songwriter and
musician but a polished and seasoned performer, always putting on an
entertaining and energetic show.
Over to Jade for her own
take on the tour:
The tours going really well, we’re only two nights in and I’m looking forward to the rest of the dates and ending in my home town of Leeds
Jade Helliwell is on tour
around the UK with tickets still available for some shows – check her website
for details.
Jade Helliwell and ZimagineD Artist Management
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