Kate Tempest with Akinyemi @ Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY
Photos and review courtesy of Edwina Hay | October 1 2019
British multihyphenate Kate Tempest (spoken word artist, rapper, poet, novelist, and playwright) announced four US shows along the west coast and one taking place on the east coast in Brooklyn, NY. The brief tour was done in support of her third record, The Book Of Traps & Lessons.
The sold-out concert in Brooklyn on Tuesday night began with an opening set by a young, energetic local rapper from Queens, Akinyemi. He spent much of his set running across the stage and engaging the audience in call & response. Despite most of the audience not being familiar with his music beforehand, he easily won the room over as it was quite difficult to not enjoy his enthusiasm and sense of humor (after knocking down a microphone stand, he quickly joked to Elsewhere that he valued their equipment).
Kate Tempest took the stage promptly at 10PM, joined by Clare Uchima.
Tempest began her set with songs from her first two albums Everybody Down and Let Them Eat Chaos such as “Marshall Law,” “We Die,” “Europe Is Lost,” “Circles,” and “The Beigeness,” before performing Traps & Lessons in its entirety. All of her songs were delivered with such passion, to be heightened by Uchima’s live synths and mixing plus the impressive lighting design; during “Brown Eyed Man,” the lights went out quickly, only to return to a deep red during a dramatic part of the song while “Circles,” the spotlights on stage naturally went around in circles.
I last saw Tempest perform live in 2015 after the release of her first album, “Everybody Down” at the intimate Mercury Lounge and as I made my way home just before midnight, I couldn’t help but wonder when I’d be able to see her perform these songs again.
Governors Ball Music Festival 2015 // NYC
Music Festivals in NYC have historically been a flop, sometimes even cancelled before they have a chance to flop. Poor weather conditions, low ticket sales, lack of wide open spaces to handle the crowds are all contributing factors.
Fortunately Governors Ball Music Festival on NYC’s Randall’s Island is one festival that seems to have survived, and thrived against all odds (we will not soon forget Mud Ball 2013). Not only has it thrived, but it was even voted “Festival of Year” by Consequence of Sound in 2014.
I spent three great days on Randall Island to cover Governors Ball for Impose Magazine this year, and here are some of the best things I saw at Gov Ball 2015!
Photos + Words by Ester Segretto Photography 2015
Kate Tempest // Live in Chicago
Kate Tempest has a way with words. She controls the English language in a way most of us only wish we could, with a stellar grasp of all things full of emotion and urgency. "More empathy, less greed." I feel quite privileged to have seen her recently, as well as being able to grab a few moments of her time for some portraits. Here's a little bit of that night at Chicago's Schubas. Massive thank you's to Kate, Alex, and her band, as well as Bela and everyone at Ninja Tune/Big Dada for being so incredible.
Photos + words: Victoria Sanders | victoriasandersphotography.com
Click on images for gallery slideshow.
