With 2019 almost over, read below for a countdown of the best London soul gigs of the year!

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Honourable Mention: Tony Momrelle at Pizza Express Live (Review)

Tony Momrelle, one of the key figures within British soul, returned in 2019 with his great new album Best Is Yet To Come. His show at Pizza Express Holborn saw his vocal talents on full display, with a dazzling band behind him.

Standout Moment: Momrelle’s moving performance of ‘Remember’, a self-written tune he had decided to retire until audiences demanded he return it to his set

10. Burt Bacharach at Eventim Apollo (Review)

Burt Bacharach has one of the most splendid catalogues in pop music history. With the man himself at the piano, a full orchestra behind him, and a selection of talented vocalists (including special guest Joss Stone) at his disposal, his show at the Eventim Apollo was bound to please.

Standout Moment: Joss Stone bringing heartbreak and abandon to ‘A House Is Not A Home’

9. Alicia Olatuja at Pizza Express Jazz Club (Review)

From a vocal standpoint, Alicia Olatuja’s performance at the Pizza Express Jazz Club was nothing short of a masterclass. She lent her bright, clean, and pitch-perfect vocals to a range of stripped-back covers from various women singer-songwriters.

Standout Moment: Her ethereal performance of original song ‘Child of the Moon’

8. Nicole Henry Sings Aretha Franklin at St John’s Smith Square (Review)

Since her passing, a plethora of Aretha Franklin tributes have sprung up. This year, The House That Soul Built reviewed tributes from Antibalas (featuring Bettye Lavette and Nona Hendryx), Patti Boulaye (hmm), and Vanessa Haynes. Yet Nicole Henry’s performance at St John’s Smith Square felt a cut above the rest. With nuanced re-arrangements from musical director and guitarist Nick Fitch, Henry sang with meticulous control and finesse.

Standout Moment: A gorgeously restrained rendition of ‘Skylark’

7. Danny Toeman at Pizza Express Live, Holborn (Review)

The King of North London Soul champions a grittier sound compared to some of his male contemporaries of the smoother, neo-soul persuasion. His fierce live set at Pizza Express Holborn underscored his dangerously good ear for a soulful hook – take, for example, the Motown-flecked ‘She’s Got Something About Her’, the pulsating ‘Rise Above’, and the anthemic ‘Mr Showtime (Give It All Up)’.

Standout Moment: His closing number, the electrifying ‘Shake the Blues’

6. Ruby Turner at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (Review)

Compared to some of her more showy contemporaries, there is something down-to-earth and grounded about Ruby Turner. Yet the woman can blow. Her annual residencies at Ronnie Scott’s sell out for a reason. With heavy, raw vocals, the woman radiates soul.

Standout Moment: Her thrilling take on Lorraine Ellison’s ‘Stay With Me’

5. Beverley Knight at Royal Festival Hall (Review)

The reigning Queen of British Soul has a formidable reputation as a live performer. Her ’25 years in music’ concert at the Royal Festival Hall – archived on the album BK25 – was another jewel in her crown. Covering her original hits, her forays into musical theatre, and her interpretations of soulful standards, Knight was on stunning form throughout.

Standout Moment: Her blistering vocal on ‘Black Butta’

4. Mississippi Goddam: The Music of Nina Simone at Royal Albert Hall (Review)

Nina Simone’s visceral and politically-charged catalogue was rendered with aplomb by the Metropole Orkest and singers Ledisi and Lisa Fischer. Under Jules Buckey’s command, the set covered haunting ballads (‘Plain Gold Ring’, ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’), Simone’s expressions of outrage and injustice (‘Mississippi Goddam’, ‘Four Women’), and her joyful anthems (‘I’m Going Back Home’, ‘Feeling Good’). Singing marvellously throughout, Fischer and Ledisi threw themselves into the material.

Standout Moment: A slow-burning performance of ‘Four Women’, featuring LaSharVu vocalists Sharlene Hector and Vula Malinga

3. DeAndre at The Pheasantry (Review)

The American Idol alum has forged ahead with his combination of throwback neo-soul hooks and skillful and melismatic vocals. His sold-out set at The Pheasantry back in April featured material from his debut album Black Denim as well as covers from his 1980s/90s soul/R&B influences. DeAndre sang with extraordinary dexterity, and drew upon his talented band.

Standout Moment: A re-arranged take on Patti Labelle’s ‘Love, Need and Want You’

2. Acantha Lang at Pizza Express Jazz Club (Review)

A dark horse within the British soul circuit, Acantha Lang has had several sell-out shows across the Pizza Express Live chain. Her show in March meshed blues, rock, and soul. Extending an olive branch to her estranged father (‘Come Back Home’), celebrating her mother’s resilience (‘Lois Lang’), and paying homage to her hometown of New Orleans (‘9^th Ward’), Lang’s original material impressed. She brings danger and edge to the stage.

Standout Moment: Her performance of ‘He Said/She Said’, an attack on ‘fake news’ and social media

1. Gladys Knight at the Royal Albert Hall (Review)

The Empress of Soul has an otherworldly contralto voice that is still in pristine shape. Her catalogue is rich in soulful nostalgia, yet she can carry a show on voice and stage presence alone. Her show at the Royal Albert Hall was, quite simply, breathtaking.

Standout Moment: Her still, vulnerable performance of ‘Help Me Make It Through the Night’

Image attributions:
Gladys Knight: Image taken from Royal Albert Hall website
Ledisi and Lisa Fischer at Royal Albert Hall: Mark Allan, BBC
Acantha Lang: Image taken from Acantha Lang’s website
DeAndre: Image taken from DeAndre’s Facebook page