Rudimental, O2 Academy, Birmingham - review with pictures

Having made their name collaborating with the best pop artists in the business, there’s a reason why everyone wants to keep working with them.

Coming with up a catchy beat is tough, so to keep doing it time and time again really does set certain bands apart from the rest.

They clearly love what they do to and it was great to see them all dancing away and getting the crowd involved from the opening beat at the O2 Academy in Birmingham last night.

It was packed to the rafters but everyone, from the very front, to those propping up the bar, dancing in the aisles or watching from the balcony, were on their feet and jumping around for the duration of the set.

It’s quite bizarre they have only released two albums. It feels like they’ve been around forever but we were told a third would be following in the near future.

Toast to Our Differences is scheduled for release around January. And if the two tracks off that album we were treated to last night were anything to go by, it’s pretty fair to say it will be another one to add to the collection.

“Please tell me that it's alright, alright, alright . . .” It certainly was when they opened with classic track, Right Here, featuring Foxes.

What a great way to open the gig, with the steel drums giving way to out-and-out R ‘n’ B and then simple dance music. I say simple, it’s far from simple, but they make it sound so easy.

Not Giving In also starts slowly with John Newman’s soulful voice singing alongside a piano, until again the track opens up with more of that drum and bass.

It was relentless and, as my friend John so aptly put it early on, “it didn’t take them long to get the crowd on board, did it?”.

It certainly did not and soon it was time to move on from their debut album Home and start playing a few songs from their 2015 effort – yes, it was that long ago – We The Generation.

If Newman starred on Home, Will Heard is the go-to man on their second album. I Will For Love is the opening track on the album – and it’s not too dissimilar to Not Giving In, only this time Heard’s strong voice builds up the song, with some gospel singing in the background and, you guessed it, drum and bass following.

I’m not knocking it, in fact I’m praising it. It sounds good on the album but even better live.

They then played a new track off what they promised you be their forthcoming album, which is coming out soon, and then Sun Comes Up, featuring James Arthur.

Strong voices just suit their style, whether it’s Newman or Emeli Sande for Home, or Heard and Anne-Marie on We The Generation.

However, a personal favourite is Bloodstream. Without pretending to be Ed Sheeran’s number one fan, pretty much everything he does is good.

Bloodstream is no different. His lovely finger-picking guitar skills and superb voice played over the top of a simple drum beat is wonderful.

Dancing like manics, illuminated in greens, yellows and red, those boys know how to put on a show.

“With all my heart, I love you baby . . .” The crowd was left thinking, ‘hang on a minute,that sounds like Sweet Love by Anita Baker'. Then the chorus hit and we were all singing along, “’Cause I believe I'm in love, sweet love, hear me callin' out your name, I feel no shame”. Where did that come from? I’m not sure but it worked so well.

Did we Feel The Love? You bet we did, and just when you thought it was time for a short break, they came straight back with Waiting All Night, featuring Ella Eyre.

It’s the same format, building up – slowly, slowly, slowly – and then exploding into action. Everyone knows when it’s dropping and the place just erupted.

But no Rudimental gig would really be complete without a rendition of These Days. Featuring Jess Lynne – arguably with the best female voice in the pop business today – and the mighty American rapper Macklemore, you can’t go wrong.

“I just want to say thank you,” go the lyrics. But it was the crowd thanking them at the end of the gig. Here’s the next album and tour.