LIVE REVIEW ::: Wretch 32 And Tom Jones At Arthur’s Day

A toast and celebration to the creator of Ireland’s biggest export, Guinness, the event was as silky smooth as its beverage and it gave me the opportunity to see a legend perform – none other than Sir Tom Jones.

Held in the regal Senate House, we were promised a spectacle like no other. I was taken to a room transformed into a glittering galaxy. Before I could breathe a word I had a Guinness and pot of Irish Stew handed to me and it was a sign of how the rest of the evening would go.

First on stage was the charismatic and boundless Wretch 32. A live-wire who gets the entire room up chanting and bouncing within seconds of his arrival. Wretch treated the crowd to all his hits including ‘Unorthodox’, ‘Hush Little Baby’ and ’Dont Go’ whilst throwing in mash-ups and remixes of classic tunes such as ‘Jump Around’.

The set ended on a high with an extended version of ‘Traktor’ after which Wretch 32 was handed  a well deserved pint. If this is how Wretch is after a year of performing debut album Black and White his next musical offering can only get better.

Straight on after Wretch was to be Sir Tom Jones but where is he? An hour later people were starting to get restless, has he cancelled? Is he ill, lost? Out of nowhere a faint drumroll began, the lights dimmed and before we knew it the silver fox is on the mic, hollering in his soft Welsh tones; “Now Where’s my Guinness,” and all is well.

Only a man of Tom Jones’ standing could be forgiven so easily, especially when the set turns into a Texan ho- down. Treating us to exclusive performances of his latest tracks from new album Spirit In The Room. Although most of us were yearning for a classic or two, the new tracks went down a treat and for an hour we felt like we were Tom’s best friends, all hauled up in his local.

He spent the majority of the gig with a Guinness in hand and made sure he toasted old Arthur Guinness. Most of the attendees to the gig were competition winners through Jones’ website, and from those that I asked they were “thrilled” and “blown away” by his performance.

A thoroughly thrilling gig seeing the old with the new; they’re two very different but equally as entertaining and energetic artists.

Written by ::: Arielle Free
Twitter ::: @ariellefree and @KIOTDL
Website ::: www.shoreditchradio.co.uk