Live

In The Round Festival: Hak Baker presents Bricks In The wall 15/1/22

It's been a rough couple of years for up-and-coming artists.
For those who were building up momentum just before COVD hit, it's been a deeply frustrating time. Livestreams are alright, but they're no substitute for performing in front of a live crowd and sharing the energy inside a venue.

All credit therefore to the team at The Roundhouse in Camden, who kicked off this year's In The Round festival at Camden's Roundhouse with a strong lineup of artists with the world at their feet. Denied the chance to tour and perform shows for so long, lockdown has at least been a time to work on new material and get tracks ready for when the world returns to normal.

It was Kai Kwasi, Bel Cobain, Connie Constance, Rachel Chinouriri and Hak Baker who opened the 2022 series with a night showing why there is currently so much excitement surrounding them.

With a lot to get through, doors opened early through necessity, and those who arrived at the start were rewarded with a mature performance from Kwasi.

He was followed onstage by Bel Cobain, who's been making a name for herself in the past three years with some excellent jazz-infused soul. From the off, it was clear she is a special talent, with "Introverted Stoner" and "At the Bay" among the highlights from an excellent set.

Rachel Chinouriri is another singer with the potential to go far. The south Londoner was introduced to a new audience when her song "The River Bend" with Subculture was included on the "I May Destroy You" soundtrack. At just 23 she has an album, "Four Degrees in Winter" and a string of acclaimed singles to her name, and she tore The Roundhouse apart with her powerful voice. "So My Darling" is a powerful launchpad for an exciting career, and the track sounded pristine in front of a crowded venue.

Connie Constance was a change of pace, with her punk-infused pop and high energy guitar-driven records getting the crowd moving. Last year's "Prim N Propa" taps into the frustration many feel about the way the country is run and was delivered in style.

For the final performance of the night, East London's Hak Baker clearly relished taking to the stage. His music has been branded "G-folk" - a blend of grime and acoustic singer-songwriter songs that has never been tried by anyone before.

Cracking open a beer and with a broad grin across his face throughout, Baker is a charismatic stage presence as he ripped through a 45-minute set that had the crowd moving throughout. "Conundrum", "Venezuela Riddim" and "Cool Kids" were delivered in his distinctive style and showed why people had travelled from far and wide to catch his performance. It was a successful end to an exciting showcase for young British talent at the start of a promising year for each artist.

PHOTOS: DAVE BURKE
Words Dave Burke