With last year’s Institute gig here an easily secured sell out and recent dates across the UK doing the same double-time, Kiwanuka’s next visit to Birmingham’s magnificent Symphony Hall is one to get booked early. Drawing comparisons from timeless top-scale talents like Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers to Jack Johnson and Richie Havens, the one thing fans of Michael Kiwanuka’s gentle retro soul and beautiful easygoing sounds can probably agree on is the very obvious raw yet beautifully skilled talent that the organic British singer songwriter possesses. Kiwanuka has made musical waves all over the place since the release of his debut album Home Again, from Radio 6 to the opening credits on HBO’s Big Little Lies and second album Love & Hate’s critical acclaim has recently reached both Mercury Prize and BRIT Awards nominated heights. Worldwide domination is pretty much in the bag.
Mon 16 Oct, The Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA. £28 – £20.50 www.thsh.co.uk
Words: Hana Borrowman
Published on: Sun 1 Oct 2017