LIVE MUSIC REVIEW: Beabadoobee - 11th October 2022

Photo By Adam Kennedy

The O2 Academy was Newcastle’s home of the most eruptive, energised shows from artists big and small, on their journey through UK, European and even world tours!

Its replacement – NX – has been open less than a month and already there has been a plethora of pop-pumped shows, one of which saw Filipino-British artist Beabadoobee bring her dance-inducing, dreamy sound to Newcastle earlier last week on October 11th.

Met with a mass of adoring, young fans, it wasn’t long before the venue was packed from head to toe top-full. Settling into a fog-plashed dancefloor, the crowd sprung ablaze with the garage-shaking performance from supporting grunge band, Pretty Sick.

High on the sparking basslines and rockstar showmanship of Pretty Sick, the NX was galvanised with rip-roaring love as Beabadoobee enters the stage, smiles as bright as the lights that showered over her stage.

Photo By Adam Kennedy

‘Beatopia’, the follow-up to Beabadoobee’s 2020 album ‘Fake It Flowers’, is unleashed on the night in an abundance of invigorating instrumentals, synergising perfectly with Beabadoobee's mirthful powerhouse of a voice.

Beabadoobee levitated us with a peek into the childlike dollhouse of nostalgic colours that is ‘Beatopia’, upholstered with an unabashed candour of innocence. With every performance of tracks, like ‘See you Soon’ and ‘Talk’, embellished with the iridescent-honeyed melodies of 00s bubble-gum pop, the performance was a window into escapism, or rather, into Wonderland.

Delivering the warmth of one of those rom-coms you dig out on a low day, we were sent on a roller coaster down the rabbit-hole of psych-grunge that had me singing along to every feel-good word.

Beabadoobee’s performance had me feeling like I’m back in my childhood bedroom, discovering the grunge artists that I’ll still be a fan of in my twenties!

Photo By Adam Kennedy

Professing her love for the crowd, this was the night that Beabadoobee fell in love with Newcastle! In turn, one can only imagine that – as the Newcastle crowd fell more in love with her – those who are lucky enough to see her perform across the US will also be enchanted by her energetic performance!

Yes, you read that right, Beabadoobee is rounding off this hugely successful year with a tour across the US, concluding on December 4th in Boston.

Stay Connected Via www.beabadoobee.com

Article By Becca Todd & Live Music Photography By Adam Kennedy