Emma Blackery
Although Emma Blackery herself only graced the stage after about an hour and a half, we were well entertained by the two opening acts. First up was Valeras, a 5-piece rock band from Reading. With a fantastic drummer who managed to nail every complex beat, Rose, the lead singer whose voice rang clear and crisp, and some tantalising guitar riffs, the band stirred up the crowd for about an hour with their loud, grunge rock tunes. They had a sound that was uniquely their own, and they knew how to entertain. They may not be for you if you prefer quieter music, but anyone could have appreciated how unified the entire band was when they played.
Next up was Rusty Clanton, whose folk songs seemed a little out of place when one considers the rock bands that went up before and after him. He did have a few heartwarming acoustic songs though, which offered the audience a chance to relax after an hour of dancing along to upbeat rock songs.
After a long break, Emma Blackery finally burst onto stage and her fans went ballistic. She played songs from her new EP, such as Don’t Come Home, as well as songs from her old album, which we all really enjoyed because they gave her fans a comforting sense of familiarity. The entire venue seemed to throb with anger as Emma performed songs that expressed frustration and rage, treating her audience to the back stories of each song. However, she wasn’t all about the ‘angry teenager vibe’. Emma proved to be so much more, singing songs about empowerment and healing, such as The Promise and Human Behaviour. She dedicated Human Behaviour to the victims of the Manchester attack, which definitely moved everyone in the crowd. Both songs were slow and acoustic, and they really showed off the versatility of Emma’s voice. She was able to tackle the long, loud notes of her rock songs, as well as the soft mellow tones of her quieter songs. Emma’s new EP is also full of songs that are slower and more pop than her previous albums, and shows us a different side to her.
Making snarky jokes about how hot the stage was throughout the night and encouraging the audience to chant the nicknames of her band members, Emma was thoroughly charming and entertaining. Audience participation was at its max when she handed out tissues from her packet in case anyone cried during her emotional performance of The Promise (which some fans did). We can only hope Emma will return to Norwich soon and grace the Waterfront stage with her awesome music and fun presence again.
Photos by Charlotte Robinson. See the full gallery here
