Grammy-winning musician James Blake performed at Chalk in Brighton, in support of his seventh studio album, Trying Times. This performance marked his long-awaited return to the Brighton stage, his first appearance in the city since 2011. Despite his global success, seeing James in such a small venue allowed the audience to really feel the weight of the new songs. The setting perfectly matched the intimate tone of the album.
The new record explores profound themes of intimacy and vulnerability, serving as a milestone in his career as his first fully independent release. By launching Trying Times on his own label, Blake aimed for a more direct connection with his audience. During the set, he admitted to the crowd that he had felt a bit of apprehension leading up to the release, given the personal nature of the album’s material.
Blake opened his set with the title track of his new album, immediately transfixing the audience and leaving many in the audience visibly moved, and some in tears. His soulful, raw vocal delivery was perfectly complemented by Rob McAndrews, his long-time collaborator and co-writer, who provided guitar work that added a delicate layer to the performance. The stage production remained quite minimalist, consisting only of a few keyboards, microphones, and guitars, which allowed the sheer talent on stage to remain the focal point.
Throughout the night, Blake’s stage presence was remarkably inclusive. He made a point to pause between songs, engaging the crowd with warmth, showing he really cares for his fans. A standout moment of the evening came from a fan’s Instagram DM; Blake mentioned he had received a request earlier that day and joked that he’d be “a bad person” to ignore it. He then launched into a stunning cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘A Case of You’, a performance that felt both spontaneous and deeply personal.
The setlist was a perfect balance, blending new material with career-defining staples. The crowd also were treated to renditions of ‘Lindisfarne I’ and his breakout hit ‘Retrograde’, both of which served as reminders of his evolution as an artist.
With the new album taking centre stage and being the focus of the show, the standout moment came at the very end when Blake closed with ‘Death of Love’, a hauntingly beautiful finale that left the crowd in total silence. It was an amazing performance that was a reminder of why seeing him in a small venue is so special.
