Patrick Wolf

Something has gotten under Patrick Wolf’s skin. “I won’t be forced to do anything anymore” he says, in a tone more carefree than angst-ridden. The genre-bending troubadour may have turned 30 this year but he started writing and performing aged 13. Tonight he performed a meandering, spontaneous set which, although rich in old fan favourites, indicated a restlessness to move on to the next chapter.

Wolf’s capricious approach for choosing songs was a primary example of this, as well as his playful, and at times, indulgent attempts to integrate a new Moog synthesizer to the arrangements. However these impromptu moments are what made the performance so intimate and personal. For the devoted fans gathered, as the four encores will surely attest, Wolf will always remain the treasure trove that could never lose its wonder.

The Old Market, 16 December 2013

Rating: