LIVE: Jake Bugg

29/08/2012

Tom Hadfield gets down the front to see the young singer-songwriter from Clifton take on Reading Festival.

Jake Bugg at Reading - photo by Michael Malfait

The last year has been a bit of a whirlwind for Jake Bugg. Since playing the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury in 2011, Jake has landed Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record of the Week twice for Lightning Bolt and Taste It.

Add to these achievements a European tour supporting Michael Kiwanuka, a full page interview in the NME, appearances on Later Live with Jools Holland and also the casual request from a Mr N Gallagher to support him and the High Flying Birds on their USA tour, it is easy to understand why a lot of people are catching the Bugg.   

Jake takes to the stage in his parker and scruffy mop looking like a mini Gallagher and although he seems quite shy, the crowd are quick to get behind him and encourage the young lad.   His smoky street poet folk is a perfect remedy for the sore heads after a heavy Friday and the crowd lap it up.

Jake Bugg at Reading - photo by Michael Malfait

Country Song is perhaps the highlight of the set, and although it is about half 3 in the afternoon, the lighters are out and those in the crowd who own televisions immediately recognise the IPA advert song and sing-along arm in arm.

  Lyrically Trouble Town may not cast Nottingham in the greatest light but such is the calibre of the stomping barn-dance vibe we will happily take it: Stuck in speed bump city, where the only thing that’s pretty is the thought of getting out.

Jake’s set draws to a close with Taste It and Lightning Bolt. As the last chords of Lightning Bolt (The song played in the Olympic Stadium just before Usain Bolt’s antics) the crowd scream their approval and the thunderous ovation continues long after Jake has disappeared off stage.  

The progress Jake has made in the last 12 months should be inspiration to any young artist out there that it is not impossible to “make it” as they say. Jake’s eponymous album is out on 15 October and only then will we see just how big this Clifton lad can be. I’m going to stick my neck out and say Mr Bugg will make the dream of a Nottingham number one a reality.

Jake Bugg played the Festival Republic stage at Reading Festival on Saturday 25 August 2012.

Jake Bugg interview with LeftLion
Leeds Festival 2012 review
Jake Bugg website