Beth Ray Writes

On Friday (September 13th) I went to watch David Gray at the Manchester Opera House performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra as part of the Radio 2 Piano Rooms concerts. I’ve never been to see David Gray but have always been a big fan, everyone remembers the album ‘White Ladder’ and that album coincided with many of my teenage heartbreaks so I thought it would be a great bit of nostalgia to go and watch Gray perform.

After Vernon Kay introduced him onstage Gray opened up with ‘This Years Love’, the audience were silent listening to Gray sing out the opening of the piano ballad “This year’s love had better last/ heaven knows it’s high time/ i’ve been waitin’ on my own too long”. It was a great opener and having the BBC Concert Orchestra there was a perfect addition to David’s sound, his music blends perfectly with the orchestra and as he performed further hits such as ‘Sail Away,’ ‘Please forgive me’ and new single ‘Plus & Minus’ it felt very special having the opportunity to watch him perform in such a way. Gray had announced that morning on Scott Mill’s radio show that he was going on an upcoming tour early next year to coincide with his new album ‘Dear Life’ which is released in January. The album will be David’s 13th and it’ll be released on his independent record label ‘Laugh A Minute Records’.

Watching David Gray perform was mesmerising, as he swapped between playing the piano and the guitar with ease. At one point he got up and danced around proving just because someone sings many ballads it doesn’t have to mean they have a boring stage presence and David was proof of that. He was recounting stories of each song, telling us about his band members and excitingly telling us about his new single with Talia Rose. The audience were singing louder and louder as they sang along to all of the hits, with David ending the night performing the last track of White Ladder ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’. It made for a gorgeous evening and an exciting time for David Gray as he launches his new album with such an exciting performance.

Watch some of David Gray’s older performances for the piano rooms below.