Ray LaMontagne – Usher Hall

I got into Ray LaMontagneNatalie Jane Hill and she was a real find. Beautiful voice, songs that sat somewhere between folk and Americana, and a stage presence that had the whole room paying attention from the start. I would have bought her album afterwards if it was available on CD.

What can I say about Ray? If you know his music you know that his voice is what sets him apart from most other singer-songwriters. But what struck me most tonight was the songs themselves. Hearing Trouble played front to back, twenty years on, reminded you just how strong that album is. Every track still holds up. The crowd was completely locked in, barely a phone in the air — people were just there, in the room, listening. That says everything about the kind of artist he is.

Here are some mobile videos that I shot on the night.