In the heart of Brighton city lies the Folklore Rooms, a cosy pub and intimate live music venue, showcasing the best of the Brighton music scene. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the ‘Basics’ live music and poetry event which was hosted here. It was an unforgettable and amazing evening, filled with soul, rap and folk live music and beautiful, heartfelt poetry.
The Performers At Basics Volume 1 In Brighton
Diomede: Folk singer
To begin the evening, Diomede took to the stage; a singer and songwriter based in Brighton, with a beautifully delicate voice. Also, her high-pitched tones paired with her acoustic guitar and passionate lyrics were very enjoyable to watch.
Diomede’s love song, Crystal, really stood out to me. Lyrically, it was so honest and raw; it was a real stripped-back and intimate performance.
Anna Margarita: A poet
Following this performance was the confident and radiant poet, Anna Margarita, whose raw spoken word performances have garnered her widespread popularity. She has recently performed at the BBC Contains Strong Language Festival 2023 in Leeds. She has also headlined notable venues like the Royal Court, the Bush Theatre and White City House.
There was such a range of themes she spoke about from politics, love, and breakups, to her roots in North London and Cyprus and her obsession with 2000s Grime. Margarita’s love poem was a real standout poem. It was just so humorous, raw, and honest. It was simply beautiful. She was so relatable and brimming with quiet confidence.
Arjun Nala: A soul singer
Next up was Brighton-based soul, jazz and rock singer-songwriter, Arjun Nala. It was just magnificent to watch Nala as he captured the entire room with his soulful voice.
Before performing a love song, he mentioned how it can sometimes feel cringy or slightly awkward. That’s exactly what I enjoyed about the night, other than the fantastic music, every performer was so real on stage, either making jokes or just speaking from the heart. It created such a relaxed atmosphere. But as his eyes shut and he began to sing, the only thing the audience could focus on was his incredible voice.
Jed: Poet and Rapper
Afterwards, Jed, a BBC Words First finalist made his way onto the stage. He seamlessly flowed between poetry and rapping, with witty, relatable, and meaningful lyrics, all tied together with a confident stage presence.
He captured the difficulties of growing up as a young person today effortlessly with his lyrics. As well as his own struggle to navigate his future and confront his mental health.
The unbelievably talented band, combined with Jed’s cheeky, clever bars made for a captivating performance. Also, it seemed as if he was enjoying himself so much too and so was the audience.
Kavzad: The Headliner
Finally, the headliner and rising rapper in Brighton’s music scene, Kavzad made his way to the stage. He is known for his fusion of hip-hop, jazzy, and soulful rap, and for having amassed over 350k streams. He has truly distinguished himself in the Brighton music scene.
His band, which included a few members who had also performed with Jed, were again, incredible. As well as the backing singer, Brieya May, who took the performance to another level with her powerful voice.
Overall, the performance was highly enjoyable, Kavzad had the audience super engaged with a smooth flow. It was a fantastic conclusion to a great evening.
The venue and the vibe
The venue was intimate, unique, and simply beautiful; it was effortlessly cool. Fairy lights adorned the back wall behind the stage, along with slabs of wood, free-growing leaves and plants, and a funky lamp.
Also, the lighting was super dim with tea lights in red candle pots on each table. This created a hue of faint red throughout the entire space.
The vibe was so relaxed but, with so many incredible performers, the room was also bursting with energy. It was a combination of electricity and calmness, and everybody seemed to be having an amazing time. Moreover, the performers provided witty commentary throughout the night, which contributed to the easygoing vibe.
Overall thoughts on Basics Volume 1 in Brighton
The Folklore Rooms boast exquisite decor and an intimate atmosphere, coupled with convenient access to the bar downstairs and performances showcasing remarkable talent. For just £7, this offers excellent value. I will definitely be rushing to get my next ‘Basics’ ticket at the Folklore Rooms in Brighton and so should you!
Find out about future events: https://www.instagram.com/basics.agb/?hl=en
