Gabrielle Aplin

Brighton-based Gabrielle Aplin is a euphonious powerhouse in trainers. She tells the crowd that without her high heels on she feels small and powerless. But at 25, she is petite and powerful with a raw vocal maturity. When she belts out a beautifully stripped down version of Salute’s ‘That Girl’, the sold out audience listen in silence. Her winsome rendition of the hit which saw her rise to fame – Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘The Power of Love’ – was flawless. Aplin’s seismic shift from folk hipster to pop princess may have been necessary for her survival, but it’s the synth-free acoustic ballads like ‘Heavy Heart’ which pack the biggest punch.

Concorde 2, 23 October 2017
Rating:
Abby Kwantes