Old Fang Birthday Bash – Travis is a Tourist & Callum Stewart
Thursday 8th June 2017 – Black Box, Belfast
Live music is undeniably one of the most unique, spiritually rewarding human experiences. Almost universally enjoyed, bringing individuals together across physical and cultural boundaries. Free cake is another.
So when boutique creative brand and label Old Fang said they were putting the two together for their 3rd birthday party – held in the Cathedral Quarter’s Black Box – we knew we had to be there. That, and Old Fang have been working for the past three years to redefine the boundaries of live music with unforgettable combinations of audio and visuals that have given the brand a firm foothold in the NI music scene:
“We work tirelessly to create performances that disrupt, challenge and ultimately defy the limitations of their surroundings. Each show is unique to the artists performing and exists for one night and one night only.”
After two slices of cake I had to sit down. Luckily, just in time to enjoy the stylings of piano virtuoso Callum Stewart. Tipped for big things since 2014, the indie-pop artist has topped well over half a million plays on Spotify in his short career. The huge success of latest single ‘The Dam’, co-written with Jez Ashurst (Gabrielle Aplin, Lawson) and Emma Rohan (James Arthur, Little Mix), seems set to keep the young artist on track. Backlit, with the full attention of the room, Callum Stewart gives a performance of soulful piano renditions to start off the birthday celebrations.
With a full-band lineup, a healthy dose of neon paint and mind-altering visuals courtesy of the Old Fang gang, Travis Is A Tourist take to the stage. As always, powerful vocals are accompanied perfectly by confident, energetic instrumentals – however, new sampling and FX show the band continue to eagerly craft their live performance and engage their audience.
Staying true to the Old Fang ethos, Travis rounds off the evening with an intimate performance of the latest single ‘What’s On Your Mind?’, off-stage and unplugged. A unique and unforgettable end to a very happy birthday for Old Fang.
