Morgan Wade Live at O2 Forum Kentish Town
Whilst the coronavirus pandemic was an incredibly difficult time for people right across the planet and particularly in the music business, one thing the time did allow was for people to properly be able to digest music and listen to albums in their entirety in a way that ordinarily may not have happened. One such beam of light to shine through was Morgan Wade and her stunning Sadler Vaden produced “Reckless” which after deserved critical claim would go on to land her a larger record deal with Arista Nashville.
Since the world opened up once again, the Floyd, Virgina native has been a very regular visitor to this side of the Atlantic which began in 2022 at C2C: Country to Country where she appeared as part Introducing Nashville series alongside Priscilla Block and Tiera Kennedy. Wade would return during that summer for her first headline tour and also appearing at British Summer Time in Hyde Park as part of the Eagles’ 50th Anniversary celebrations. The major festivals and iconic venues continued to stack up a year later as she played Highways Festival at Royal Albert Hall on the same bill as Kip Moore so, her growing number of British fans were eagerly anticipating this 2025 headline tour where we headed to the show at Kentish Town Forum on Tuesday 25th March.
Prior to the eighty-minute set, there was another treat in store as a fellow C2C Introducing Nashville alumni in the shape Karley Scott Collins was opening on the tour. Like with Morgan’s first UK performances, the O2 arena appearance was as part of a round where she only played a very small handful of songs unaccompanied but it was fantastic to see her showcase more of her personality and catalogue.
Wade would follow and entered the stage just before nine for an acoustic setup of two guitars and keys which is a way that really allows her to showcase her craft. Opening with “Phantom Feelings” from her “Psychopath” record, she danced through all four of her full-length projects with heavy leaning towards both the “Reckless” and “Obsessed” albums. Interaction on stage with her band was free-flowing and telling stories this way is clearly a way that is very comfortable to her and her stage persona continues to grow and grow each time that you see her play.
Her latest release “East Coast” appeared early in the set and her greatest skill is as a purely deep and true lyricist which this setup really showcases. She is someone exposes her vulnerability in her songs and is not afraid to show it on stage to a highly dedicated crowd. I’m not sure how to place it musically as to me I wouldn’t describe it as Americana but it’s probably where it falls as there is a very strong folk influence, a lot of rock and a heavy leaning into country but to do headlining shows where you have some really big numbers without drums takes a lot to pull off well, which she absolutely did.
I felt this was the best atmosphere and most refined performance from Wade where she had found the perfect way to deliver her songs. The onstage banter with her band was so much fun and really shows how she had grown into her live shows, she comes across warmer each time that I see her and her catalogue continues to grow with more and more relatable songs. “Wilder Days” has become such an iconic song that truly reflects on her back story so to hear a full-crowd singalong to end the show was absolutely fitting and I’m sure these singalongs will continue to grow with each visit as both lyrically and vocally she is just magical.
26th March- Albert Hall, MANCHESTER
28th March – Whelan’s, DUBLIN
30th March – O2 Academy, GLASGOW
“East Coast” is the latest single from Morgan Wade which is out now and available HERE. Morgan’s UK and Irish tour continues in Manchester with full dates shown above and ticket information is available on her WEBSITE whilst you can keep up to date with all that Morgan is up to socially on TIKTOK X INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK.
Since the world opened up once again, the Floyd, Virgina native has been a very regular visitor to this side of the Atlantic which began in 2022 at C2C: Country to Country where she appeared as part Introducing Nashville series alongside Priscilla Block and Tiera Kennedy. Wade would return during that summer for her first headline tour and also appearing at British Summer Time in Hyde Park as part of the Eagles’ 50th Anniversary celebrations. The major festivals and iconic venues continued to stack up a year later as she played Highways Festival at Royal Albert Hall on the same bill as Kip Moore so, her growing number of British fans were eagerly anticipating this 2025 headline tour where we headed to the show at Kentish Town Forum on Tuesday 25th March.
Prior to the eighty-minute set, there was another treat in store as a fellow C2C Introducing Nashville alumni in the shape Karley Scott Collins was opening on the tour. Like with Morgan’s first UK performances, the O2 arena appearance was as part of a round where she only played a very small handful of songs unaccompanied but it was fantastic to see her showcase more of her personality and catalogue.
Wade would follow and entered the stage just before nine for an acoustic setup of two guitars and keys which is a way that really allows her to showcase her craft. Opening with “Phantom Feelings” from her “Psychopath” record, she danced through all four of her full-length projects with heavy leaning towards both the “Reckless” and “Obsessed” albums. Interaction on stage with her band was free-flowing and telling stories this way is clearly a way that is very comfortable to her and her stage persona continues to grow and grow each time that you see her play.
Her latest release “East Coast” appeared early in the set and her greatest skill is as a purely deep and true lyricist which this setup really showcases. She is someone exposes her vulnerability in her songs and is not afraid to show it on stage to a highly dedicated crowd. I’m not sure how to place it musically as to me I wouldn’t describe it as Americana but it’s probably where it falls as there is a very strong folk influence, a lot of rock and a heavy leaning into country but to do headlining shows where you have some really big numbers without drums takes a lot to pull off well, which she absolutely did.
I felt this was the best atmosphere and most refined performance from Wade where she had found the perfect way to deliver her songs. The onstage banter with her band was so much fun and really shows how she had grown into her live shows, she comes across warmer each time that I see her and her catalogue continues to grow with more and more relatable songs. “Wilder Days” has become such an iconic song that truly reflects on her back story so to hear a full-crowd singalong to end the show was absolutely fitting and I’m sure these singalongs will continue to grow with each visit as both lyrically and vocally she is just magical.
26th March- Albert Hall, MANCHESTER
28th March – Whelan’s, DUBLIN
30th March – O2 Academy, GLASGOW
“East Coast” is the latest single from Morgan Wade which is out now and available HERE. Morgan’s UK and Irish tour continues in Manchester with full dates shown above and ticket information is available on her WEBSITE whilst you can keep up to date with all that Morgan is up to socially on TIKTOK X INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK.
