Jake Bugg

Man of the moment Jake Bugg has has an incredible year. The 18-year-old from Nottingham only released his debut single ‘Trouble Town’ a year ago and since then he’s topped the album charts, bothered the charts with a string of catchy singles, toured with Noel Gallagher and been hailed as everything from the new Bob Dylan to the future of British guitar music. No surprise then that The Brighton Dome gig was a fast, furious sell-out. Though the sensible ticket price was a welcome nod to younger fans.

To put the record straight, Jake Bugg is not the new anyone. The solo guitar style, and his worldly songwriting skills make comparisons with Dylan inevitable though the insanely catchy lyricism owes as much to Arctic Monkeys. Bugg may be retro, but he is relentlessly modern.

Not apparently shaken or stirred by his sudden success Bugg held the stage admirably, a relatively banter-free zone but all the better for that. Opening with the infectious ‘Fire’, Bugg kept up an intense pace throughout, thrilling a very mixed audience. At times backed by bass and drums, for most of the set Bugg holds the stage alone, with guitar. Spine-tingling highlights included a beautifully raw solo acoustic rendition of ‘Someone Told M’e.

The set concluded with with a masterclass of infectious singles: ‘Two Fingers’, ‘Taste It’ and ‘Lightning Bolt’. A brilliant talent.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 18 February 2013

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