Lucy Spraggan is currently touring the UK in support of her highly anticipated forthcoming album, Others Side Of The Moon, a collection of reworked tracks from her extensive back catalogue. Joined by her longtime collaborator, Josh Cana, on piano, the singer-songwriter took to the stage at Digital in Newcastle over the weekend, offering an electrifying preview of the exciting new chapter ahead.
Knowing the challenge of playing to a Saturday night crowd, Lucy wasted no time diving into ‘Lighthouse’ – one of her most anthemic tracks, sure to ignite an electrifying response. She seamlessly transitioned into ‘Lucky Stars’, keeping the energy soaring. Then came ‘Butterflies’ – a fan favourite and one of her most requested songs. Stripped down to its raw beauty, the performance highlighted not only the power of Lucy’s vocals but also her remarkable ability to craft deeply poignant, unforgettable lyrics.
‘Bodies’ brought the first real low key moment of the evening. Known for her honesty in both her music and her storytelling, Lucy shared the struggles she’s faced with body image before launching into the deeply personal track. Paired with nothing but delicate piano, her vocals created a raw, heartfelt moment that resonated deeply with the audience. Body image isn’t the only struggle that Lucy’s overcome, and she’s been forthright about her alcohol-free journey, which will reach its six-year milestone this summer. Maintaining the somber, introspective mood, she moved into ‘Sober’, a powerful track that eloquently details her journey to sobriety, showcasing her strength and resilience.
With eight albums to her name, Lucy has an abundance of material to choose from, making the selection for her upcoming release a challenging task. After sharing with the crowd that there was one track she had been particularly concerned about, she unveiled it as ‘Tea & Toast’, before performing a rendition that swapped her acoustic guitar for a stunning piano arrangement – closely resembling the new version, which, she teased, features a breathtaking string section sure to captivate. ‘Tea & Toast’ transitioned beautifully into ‘Mountains’, another track from her Join the Club album. Lucy’s infectious smile and captivating stories never fail to light up the stage, and ‘Mountains’ was a perfect example of this. Sharing a touching memory about an encounter with an elderly woman at a train station – who had asked if she enjoyed playing guitar and urged her not to stop – Lucy framed the song as a powerful reflection of how far she’s come, marking a significant moment in her journey of growth and success.
Lucy is a master at reading a crowd, and when it came to the evening’s sole new track, she seamlessly followed it with the song that started it all, ‘Last Night (Beer Fear)’, which was met with a thunderous response. Titled ‘The Lesson’, the new track is said to be one of Lucy’s personal favourites among her own compositions, and it’s easy to understand why. Reflective of the struggle to cope with the loss of a loved one, the lyrics evoked an emotional reaction in Lucy. Stripped of the usual shield of her guitar, she stood almost exposed, her vulnerability palpable, while Josh’s delicate and soulful piano offered a tender and haunting backdrop.
Lucy touches on difficulties in life that we all face, and it’s this personal touch that makes her so lovable and relatable. Written about taking the time to consider what she wanted from life and most importantly, finding her own balance, ‘Balance’ is one of her most honest tracks. Piano led, the inspiring track took on a huge presence live. The slow starting ‘Fight For It’ followed, gradually picking up pace before bursting into a triumphant anthem that Lucy obviously takes great joy in performing. Next up was ‘Loaded Guns’ – another lively track from I Hope You Don’t Mind Me Writing. Introduced with a humorous story about a fan who mistakenly thought the title was ‘Lonely Goats’, it perfectly captured the energy in the room, as the crowd eagerly seized the moment, playfully swapping the lyrics every time Lucy reached the chorus.
The penultimate track of the night, ‘Unsinkable’, has already left a lasting impression, as its reworked version aired on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this month, sending chills through listeners before its official release. While the thunderous drums and enchanting strings were notably absent, the track’s unifying power still radiated with undeniable warmth and energy. Within mere seconds of stepping offstage – undoubtedly the quickest encore ever – Lucy reappeared, launching into ‘Lightning’. The perfect burst of jubilant energy to cap off an evening brimming with joy.
As Lucy continues to grow and explore new musical landscapes, we can only anticipate the even greater heights she’s bound to reach. Her future is undoubtedly bright, and we’re lucky to be along for the ride.
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