Lemar at The Lowry Review
Lemar
The Lowry, Manchester
15 September 2015
Reviewed by Ann Durrell
Long before X-Factor and the Voice back in 2002 there was a kind of hybrid of Big Brother and a talent show called Fame Academy. The format didn’t last but it did bring Lemar to the public eye. He has been out of the spotlight for five years but if last night’s performance is anything to go by, he is back with a bang!
Looking dapper in a suit, from the moment Lemar came onto the stage he had the audience on their feet and I did not see anyone sit down for the whole concert. An outstanding performer, Lemar really knows how to work a crowd, plenty of eye contact for everyone from the stalls to the circle. We were treated to some classic covers from his new album ‘The Letter’, his performance of Tainted Love was outstanding as was ‘Gimmie Some Lovin’. His voice is soulful, with a fantastic range and he can take a tune and with his distinctive voice, make it his own.
There was lots of crowd interaction, we were all side stepping and clapping along, the floor was literally rocking. It was nice to hear that some of the people in the audience had been following Lemar since the start and he knew all the names, he really did come across as a genuinely nice guy. Everyone one on stage looked like they were having just as much fun as we were in the audience, his backing singers especially.
Aside from the new material we were treated to some of his classics from the early noughties, 50/50, Dance Dance Dance and Lullaby which had everyone singing along, also dropped in a bit of Bruno Mars ‘Uptown Funk’ and ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ from the Darkness.
When we thought it was coming to and the band were leaving the stage there were chants of ‘one more song’, cue a quick change and they returned to the stage for not one, but three more, including The Letter, title song from his new album.
I would recommend to anyone to catch Lemar live if they get the chance and I will be straight out to buy the album on release.
Rating: 5/5 
Lemar’s new album The Letter is out now. For more information on the new album and tour dates visit www.lemar-online.com.
For other shows at The Lowry visit www.thelowry.com.
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AZ | 0843 208 6000
