SETH LAKEMAN @ WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, COVENTRY 26/02/2025

The story of this gig comes in the last song of each half.

At the end of part one, Seth Lakeman is roaring through his breakthrough song, “Kitty Jay.” He’s playing solo, stomping on his drum sound, and tearing through the violin solo.

Then, a string snaps.

“Well,” says Lakeman, “that’s the first time ever.”

Fast forward about an hour, and he’s playing “Change.” He’s just invited people to leave their seats and dance in the space in front of the stage—and all of a sudden, a gig truly breaks out.

It had been magnificent before. After all, Lakeman is a stunning performer, and his band is incredible, but the word “performer” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Up until now, it had felt more like a recital.

Then, the energy levels shoot up. The encore follows, featuring a superb “The Scrumpy Set,” which recalls a cèilidh, and his wonderful closing number—the one he always seems to finish with—”Race to Be King.”

As ever, any Seth Lakeman show is marvellous, but this one feels even more special because he’s just released a new album. He’s never made a bad one, but “The Granite Way” is a cracker.

He knows it too, and the setlist reflects that.

The first half is built around seven of its songs.

“That song was about a woman who was murdered on the moor in the 17th century,” offers Lakeman. “Let’s cheer this up with ‘The Gallows Tree.'”

That’s the dark mood of these tracks, yet the incredible skill of “Roll Back the Years”—with Alex Hart’s harmonies shining—or the fun of “Born to the Strain,” where the false ending whips up a storm, shows the range.

Then comes something completely different. “One More Before You Go” is performed off-mic, and for a brief moment, it’s like Lakeman is busking in your living room. If anything sums up the two sides of this show, it’s that.

After the break (“We’ve checked the equipment,” jokes the star), the second half feels more like a classic “Seth” show.

That is to say, there’s a bit of everything. From “Lady of the Sea” to “Take No Rogues” to “The Rambling Sailor,” which has been dusted off for this run.

But you don’t get to play to packed crowds unless you know how to pace a set, and Lakeman does just that.

“Side by Side” turns into a singalong, “The Setting of the Sun” is beautifully poetic, and “The Colliers” stands out as one of his best.

Which brings us back to “Change” and where we started.

Before he leaves, Lakeman mentions they’ll be back in September and December, and that’s the point, really. His songs might be imbued with the air of Devon and Cornwall, but Seth and his band live on the road.

And as he departs to the strains of “West Country Boy,” you’re left with the thought that, while his roots run deep, these songs have an impact far beyond their birthplace.