There’s no getting away from the charm that Stamford holds, but it’s also nice to sometimes venture out into nearby spots with a different energy to them. With that in mind, there is something rather special happening in Peterborough right now called The Circle Sessions, and two events in, it’s definitely worth highlighting this R&B event.
The first event, held at The Met Lounge in July, was a lively yet intimate affair. Brought together by R&B and soul artist Ramaen Cole, the idea was to tap into and showcase the wealth of local talent and set it around a live R&B house band performing hits we all know and love. With an audience brought together with a shared love of good music and supportive atmosphere for artists, the night was a resounding success. It introduced a new crowd to artists Emanuela, Yemi, Collette, BLVCKROSE , OLA and of course the host Kvnjo. Rather than just a ‘night out’ it felt like the early stages of an idea with real potential.
And then came The Circle Sessions 2.
Moving to the Brewery Tap on Friday 16th October, The Circle Sessions had grown in both ambition and scale. With a bigger venue and production, and a line-up reflecting this, it’s growing confidence as an event was clear to see. And the constants that had made the first event such a success (The house band, musicians, and compère) were there radiating the same positive energy as before.
This time, the headline attraction was Misha B, whose powerful vocals brought an added dimension to the evening. Featuring in the eight season of the XFactor, Misha has since carved out a reputation for herself as an acclaimed artist, as has supported big international acts, charted, and been nominated for a MOBO award. The bill also featured Guydence, YungAce, Edza and L.yton, giving the audience a mixture of established talent and edgy, gifted and emerging performers.
With a new venue for the second Circle Sessions, the vibes were overflowing all night long. With double the capacity, those who were at the first show were joined by music fans drawn in by word of mouth and the new line-up for a memorable night. The crowd response to artists was genuinely something special that you only really get at live music events.
One of the evening’s memorable moments came during YungAce’s performance. When technical difficulties threatened to interrupt his set, the afropop artist handled the situation like a true professional, getting the crowd to sing along to one of his tracks. his composure and turned the interruption into his moment. Sometimes it’s the unexpected moments that stay with you.
Credit to the evening’s compère, KVNJÕ, who kept things moving throughout the night, maintaining the energy and ensuring that there was never a sense of the night losing momentum.
Ramaen’s vision to create a platform for artists and musicians for audiences to connect has really added a hightlight to the Peterborough scene, while giving emerging talent opportunities to be heard. What surprises will The Circle Seasons 3 hold I wonder? Stay tuned!
