Live Review: Banoffee, Hunt

Local support Hunt provided a captivating warm-up session. Vocalist, songwriter and producer Madeleine Hunt played as a duo — an interesting dynamic that featured electric drums, beats and glossy vocals. It's cool to see an act that could just as easily play solo begin to build their ensemble. DJ Angela Schilling provided sonic relief between sets, and she demonstrated a finger-on-the-pulse knowledge of bass-heavy, hip hop-flavoured future R&B that was getting the crowd moving in anticipation.

Unfortunately, as Banoffee took the stage to a massive roar of applause, the beginning of the set was halted due to large amounts of feedback. She was certainly not to blame and was visibly irritated by the incompetence. It looked as if the sound technician was inexperienced at mixing a solo electronic act in a dark night club, and this can only reflect on the venue.

Luckily what followed was an extremely close and intimate set, with Banoffee (aka Martha Brown) visibly having a ball and bringing fans up on stage to dance with her. Banoffee's execution of her live material just gets better and better, whether it's the keyboard chords in With Her, or the layering of multiple vocal loops on Let's Go To The Beach. Banoffee's voice has continually been hailed as utterly angelic, and this continues to be true, but it's how she connects with her fans through her lyrics that really enhances the live experience. Most of her songs are extremely relatable, making for an emotional experience in which the audience can embrace their vulnerability. She also performed tracks such as Ninja, Got It and Reign Down with far more confidence in their delivery than ever before, highlighting certain aspects such as a gentle falsetto or a poignant analogy.