IN PICS: Sampa The Great, UK tour, November 19

Sampa The Great returned to the UK in style this November, celebrating the release of her latest album “The Return”. A modern musical masterpiece and journey of true self-discovery.

Having previously played in the UK, Sampa was already known here for her engaging show, somehow managing to make the audience feel individually connected to her, but this time around her performance was another level. Utilising elements of the album, she used lighting and poignant moments within her music to tell her story on stage.

With the infinitely talented Silent Jay setting up the evening, with dimmed lights, and leaving him performing as a silhouette, Sampa’s arrival on stage immediately set the place on fire, with the band flowing through her repertoire with style and grace.

With each step of the tour, Sampa introduced different elements of her music and cultural references, from jumping in the crowd with the more rhyming elements of her tracks, to incorporating dancers on stage and allowing space for each of the musicians to shine. With the talented wordsmith now releasing music via Ninja Tune, her music, sound, style and performance is going from strength to strength. If you missed her this time be sure to catch her at Beat Horizon this January alongside Yasiin Bey, Jeru The Damaja, The Pharcyde, Goldie, GZA, Roni Size and many more!

Words by James “Vice beats” Kennaby
Images by Fabrice Bourgelle