Reviewed onThursday July 21

Jack Garratt is a Jack of all trades, so to speak. In this high-speed, high-energy set, he played at least four instruments masterfully, to the constant awe of the crowd. Not only is he a talented multi-instrumentalist, but also an entertainer in every sense of the word – he sang, danced, and even had people in fits of laughter.

The venue quickly started to fill up just in time for support act Kacy Hill who was, quite frankly, a ray of sunshine. She wore a colourful retro outfit and a huge smile, delivering a polished set with enthusiasm and confidence. Her soaring vocals were both sweet and daring, and with her charming stage presence between songs, she set a high standard for the night.

Some people say you should give everything ‘110 per cent’, but I’m almost certain Jack Garratt gave his entrance 150 per cent with ‘Coalesce (Synesthesia Pt. II)’. He revealed a set-up of a keyboard, rhythm pad, drum kit, guitar and microphone, and while I was expecting a band to appear behind him, it was soon clear that this would actually be a one-man show, and he was prepared to nail it. Everything was going on at once – drumsticks flying, blinding lights, chilling falsetto, slick dance moves, and a grin from ear to ear to remind us it was all under control.

He continued strong with crowd favourites ‘Breathe Life’ and ‘Weathered’, but there were some serious technical difficulties with his rhythm pad at the end of ‘Far Cry’, which required several tech guys to get involved. While Garratt was visibly frustrated, he responded to the disaster the best way he knows how – with humour. He turned to his keyboard and played everything from jazz improv (with his best trumpet impression), to the Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air theme song, and a sexy cover of Justin Timberlake’s ‘Señorita’.

Once everything was back on track, he eased back into the show, putting all he had left into ‘Fire’ and showing off with an impressive guitar solo for the opening of ‘Surprise Yourself’. While the technical difficulties had disappointed some fans, he left the crowd with a reminder that mistakes are ultimately the inspiration for improvement: “A lot of shit went down here tonight. But my mistakes today will make me better tomorrow.”

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine