Somewhere nestled in the folk-Americana landscape lies a classic songwriter with poetic sensibility and a whimsical, vibrant world. On Tuesday night at The Troubadour, London, we stepped into its enchanting embrace to witness the majestic Rachael Sage weave her musical magic.
Tucked away in Earl’s Court, the 1950s venue – which has hosted legends from Bob Dylan to modern icons like Adele – provided the perfect setting for the New York songstress, with its timeless charm and intimate atmosphere. Marking the first leg of her UK ‘Under My Canopy’ tour, Rachael introduced her new live setup, The Sequins, featuring renowned violinist Kelly Halloran and blues-rock harmonica player Will Wilde, bringing a rich, acoustic depth to the performance.
Before she took the stage, however, acclaimed singer-songwriter Maddox Jones pleasantly warmed up the crowd. Fresh off a UK tour with Lucy Spraggan, Jones shared a selection from his deluxe album ‘(Still) Waiting For The World To Turn’, charming the audience with his natural gift for melodic sensibility and resonant lyricism. He even encouraged enthusiastic sing-alongs and crafted a relaxed, inviting tone for the evening – from the reflective ‘21,’ a meditation on aging, to the rousing title track and set-closer, ‘Waiting For The World To Turn.’
Then came Rachael’s turn. Emerging on the fairy-light adorned stage with The Sequins by her side, she faced an unfortunate technical glitch with her keyboard. Yet in a show of grace and spontaneity, she pivoted effortlessly to an impromptu guitar-based set that felt as if it had been planned all along, full of unexpected charm and vitality.
Wearing a flowing patterned gown, bright azure-blue eyeshadow, and flowers woven through her long braids, Rachael instantly transported the audience into her poetic realm. She opened with the tender ‘Sleep When I’m Tired,’ and seamlessly transitioned into her new single and set highlight, ‘Canopy.’ With its message of hope, acceptance, and perseverance, wrapped in some of her most melodic songwriting to date, the performance felt both heartfelt and haunting, beautifully complementing the historic intimacy of the venue.
She glided through the set with a sense of wonder, delivering standout tracks such as ‘The Other Side’, the endearing ‘Rebecca’, and longtime fan-favourite ‘Big Star.’ Her vocal range – from delicate whispers to soulful, folk-laced crescendos – was matched by The Sequins’ dreamlike instrumentation, rich in orchestral flourishes and subtle harmonies. Their arrangements swept around each track like a gentle embrace, creating a dynamic ebb and flow throughout the set.
Rachael leaned into the playful energy of the evening, joking that her spontaneous set felt like a “One Night Only” West End production featuring only the songs she knew on guitar. But it was this very spontaneity that enthralled the room: a testament to the poise and professionalism of an artist with decades of touring experience alongside the likes of Imelda May and Lulu, and a singular artistic vision that never wavers. That infectious spirit came to life in songs like the aptly titled ‘The Place of Fun’ and the upbeat ‘Blue Sky Days,’ keeping the audience charmed and engaged.
The ethereal set drew to a close with ‘Sister Song,’ a standout from earlier album ‘Smashing the Serene.’ But this spellbinding show was only the beginning of her UK tour, which will include a performance at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and stops at acoustic gems like York’s FortyFive Vinyl Cafe and Liverpool’s Prohibition Recording Studios
As we await the eagerly anticipated album Canopy, one thing is clear: Rachael Sage is an artist at the height of her powers…ever-evolving, endlessly creative, and utterly timeless.
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