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Lady Blackbird Shepherd's Bush Empire 14/3/23

Singer Marley Munroe's rise to fame has been nothing short of astonishing in recent years. The LA songstress has long been putting the work in, but it wasn't until her hauntingly-beautiful cover of Nina Simone's "Blackbird" that the world really took notice. Since then she's put out the excellent "Black Acid Soul" album, propelling her to the forefront of the jazz/soul scene and earning her huge acclaim around the world.

Shepherd's Bush Empire was packed to the rafters as the 37-year-old confidently took to the stage wearing a flamboyant catsuit with elaborate headgear. A note-perfect rendition of the album's title track was followed by "Walk With Me" - one of the best songs released in 2023 so far - setting the scene for a mesmerising set.

"Blackbird" was performed with the full force and emotion that made the recording so powerful. Her vocal power is astonishing, with the excellent "Five Feet Tall" delivered flawlessly and showcasing an artist at the top of her game. She gave a nod to her UK audience with covers of the Beatles' "Come Together" and a lively "Life on Mars", but it was her original track "Woman" that really stood out to me.

It may have taken her a while to reach this point, but things are looking exciting for Lady Blackbird, and new material is hotly anticipated.

PHOTOS: DAVE BURKE
Words Dave Burke