Rag’n’Bone Man – Live Review – Scarborough Open Air Theatre

Picture this: a warm summer evening, the sun setting over the sea, and the hum of live music filling the air. It’s a Friday night at Scarborough Open Air Theatre, and the place is packed – buzzing with that good energy that comes from being by the coast.

My friend Alyson and I are here to see Rag’n’Bone Man, and I can’t think of a better way to kick off the weekend. Arriving early has its perks and we have ample time to grab some food (chicken nuggets and chips, £12) and find our seats before the first act takes the stage.

It’s early evening and still scorching, but there are a few bars and water stations dotted around the venue to keep us cool. Kerr Mercer kicks off proceedings around 7pm, and the Scottish singer has me hooked from the first note with his soulful pop songs.

Mercer is somewhat of a rising star, having built a loyal fanbase through live performances and supporting big-name artists – all before releasing any of his own material. His set blends raw, emotive storytelling with soulful pop – think Lewis Capaldi meets Benson Boone. ‘Someone Else’s Arms’ and ‘One in a Million’ were favourites of mine, while a flawless rendition of Tom Odell’s ‘Another Love’ had the crowd singing along.

“Heartfelt tribute”

Next up is Elles Bailey. As she struts on stage in a cowboy hat and boots, I can’t help but wonder if the group of girls in pink cowboy hats came dressed in her honour.

Bailey wastes no time getting the crowd going, performing her signature blend of rocky country-blues. Her set includes tracks from her fourth studio album, Beneath the Neon Glow, with ‘Leave the Light On’ a heartfelt tribute to her partner.

Before wrapping up, Bailey ramps up the energy by asking us to perform a Mexican wave. With a mix of seated and standing fans, it might not have quite the full effect she’d hoped for – but we give it a good go.

“Barely any empty seats”

As we draw closer to 9pm, I notice there are barely any empty seats – fans have turned out en masse to see Rag’n’Bone Man, aka Rory Graham, perform.

Having played sold-out gigs around the world, it’s no surprise that tonight’s 8,000-capacity venue is packed. He kicks things off with last year’s upbeat hit, ‘Lovers in a Past Life’ – a perfect opener that sets the tone for what’s to come.

The energy notches up a gear as the singer checks in with the crowd, asking how we’re doing and whether we’ve come to see him. He seems humbled by the turnout.

Known for his distinct, gritty tone, Rag’n’Bone Man shot to fame in 2016 with the global hit ‘Human’ – a track, he teases, he’s not going to play just yet in case we all “f*** off home.”

“Powerful ballads with ease”

More banter ensues between songs, which makes him all the more likeable.

‘The Right Way’ is accompanied by a touching photo slideshow, while ‘Skin’, ‘Iron’, ‘Be the Man’, and ‘Hideaway’ are met with cheers.

Tonight’s show isn’t just about the big hits, though. We’re also treated to tracks from his pre-Human days, including the rocky ‘Hard Came the Rain’ and ‘What Do You Believe In?’ I hadn’t heard ‘Hard Came the Rain’ before and I think it’s deserving of more recognition than it got.

Soulful and laid-back, he delivers powerful ballads with ease, commanding the stage with nothing but his voice. He doesn’t need flashy choreography or gimmicks. The visuals and lighting are an added bonus, as is his humility. “I hope that’s been caught on camera,” Rag’n’Bone Man quips after a pigeon poops on him mid-song.

“We know the drill”

As his 90-minute set draws to a close, he finally gives us what we’ve been waiting for – ‘Human’ – pausing during the chorus to let us sing it back to him, much to everyone’s delight.

As he wraps up the night, we know he’s not quite done…

We’ve all been to enough gigs to know the drill. The stage fades to black, a few people make for the exits, but most stay put, and sure enough, he returns to excited screams and applause.

“We know we’re coming back, and you know we’re coming back,” he says, before launching into the heartfelt ‘Put a Little Hurt on Me’ and ending with, my personal favourite, ‘Giant’.

By this point, most of us are on our feet, singing and dancing along. I’m sad that the show is over but it’s been fantastic – tired feet and a sore throat are telltale signs of that.

Images: Cuffe & Taylor