The Park Series: James Bay

The Park Series: Hitchin

The theme of indie-rock from Friday's Hitchin Park Series would carry on into Saturday night, as hometown hero James Bay would bring his feel-good anthems to Hitchin Priory. Bay would be supported by a stellar pop-driven lineup, starting off with upcoming artists Amellia Brown and Peonie, who were then followed by the sun-kissed indie offerings of Skinny Living. It was the sensational Freya Ridings who would deliver a mesmerising hour-long set as the evening's special guest, showcasing her ethereal vocals to a capacity crowd. By the time Riding's set had come to an end, the Hitchin crowd were well warmed up, desperately anticipating the arrival of local superstar James Bay.

James Bay

Receiving a hero's welcome as he stepped on stage, donning his signature hat and guitar, Bay kicked straight into set opener, 'Up All Night'.  It was clear from the first note of this song that this was going to be a special night, not just for the crowd, but for James Bay too. Returning to the biggest stage possible in the town he not only grew up in, but also penned so many of his early hits, was an opportunity that Bay was clearly deeply grateful for. As 'Up All Night' came to an end, he joked that he would have to keep playing songs or he'd cry, such was the emotional weight of the night. This led to James and his band quickly kicking into'Just for Tonight', sparking an impassioned singalong from the crowd, setting the tone for the evening.

The grit and soul of James Bay's voice carried every lyric with conviction as he moved into 'If You Ever Want to Be in Love'. The depth of James Bay's discography was really on full show here, playing hit after hit early on, whilst still having so many anthemic tracks to call upon for the latter stages of the set. 

'Us' and “Let It Go” turned the Priory into a choir, with every line sung back, turning the atmosphere nothing short of electric. The latter singalong in particular reached near-deafening noises, highlighting the impact Bay's music has on so many people.

Whilst it was the catchy pop-rock songs of Bay that would fill the majority of the evening, the live versions of many songs gave time for both James and the band to flex their musicality in an even greater way than the studio versions. Nothing proved this more than the extended outro of 'Wild Love', which allowed every member of James Bay's band to have their moment in the spotlight before Bay himself ripped into a breathtaking guitar solo. Although more so than just individual ability, this outro jam also highlighted the effortless chemistry James and his band share, bouncing off one another like it was second nature. This chemistry was further highlighted later in the set when Bay would bring his bandmate Tom to the front of the stage to share a moment of reflection. The duo have been friends since the age of 3, growing up on the very streets they'd have driven through to get to tonight's show, so this was very much a homecoming show for Tom as much as it was Bay. 

It was this sense of hometown nostalgia that remained present throughout the latter stages of the set, whether it was Bay name-dropping specific streets he wrote songs down, or certain lines in songs carrying more impact than they ever have. The opening line to 'Craving', "Walking through the traffic on a Monday in the town I grew up," was screamed back by the audience, who instantly connected with the relevance of the line.

It was a power duo of songs that brought an end to the show, kicking off with a thrilling rendition of 'Best Fake Smile'. As the song came to its close, Bay &co would transition into an extended outro that further highlighted the musical genius they possess.  However, it was the timeless classic 'Hold Back the River' that closed the night out, being delivered with power, precision, and a heartfelt sincerity that made the Priory feel like the centre of the world for those few minutes.

James Bay's takeover of Hitchin Priory was more than just a show; it was a celebration of one of the country's greatest modern musicians, paired with a defiant statement that James Bay is showing no signs of slowing down, and will be an integral part of the UK music scene for many years to come.