Kawala Assembly

Meeting birthday girl Becky plus Simon, Tom, various others and Debbie at the Kings Head on Upper Street we make our way to the Islington Assembly Hall where we meet Daisy and Paul for our regular dose of Kawala. First up are Sun Silva who are very pleased to be here and deliver a competent enough dose of dancy poppiness getting us warmed up for the main attraction... by the time Kawala come on the place is rammed the audience being a lot more than the ones I've seen up to now which has been a lot younger and you get the impression, at least in London, that a lot are mates. This seems like a proper headlining show to a big diverse audience. The boys take this in their stride and still have a great rapport especially Daniel who gets everyone, and I mean everyone, to sing happy birthday to his mum. So sweet. The songs don't lose anything in the bigger venue still hitting high spots with the afro beats mixed with great jazzy folky guitar playing and their brilliantly counterposed vocals. And Jim seems to be dancing a bit too. The audience loves it and there is a fair bit of adulation like shrieking going on which is weird. Debbie and Daisy join in as Paul and I shuffle away pretending not to be with them. It is a magnificent gig and the band come back out for a triumphant encore. A landmark gig in my opinion showing that they can take the smaller venue rapport to a bigger stage, which is what they've been doing all summer at festivals from what I can gather. After all the excitement me, Debbie, Daisy and Paul walk to the tube popping into the Cock Tavern at Highbury Corner for one for the road. Then Becky and Simon arrive and invite me and Debbie (Daisy and Paul having left) to the after party across the road where we drink more, chat to the band, their siblings and various other unlucky youngsters before leaving realising that the last tube has gone and I can't work out how to use Uber so we have to wander up Upper Street and grab a black cab home. Worth it though. A great night. A bit too late for a school night though and suffered the next day. Ah well - that's the stupidity of youth.

The support warming us up

Jim is dancing well

Daniel is plucking good

Spontaneous hand waving

Daniel and someone's ear

Daniel having to chat with me cos I bought the beer

I assume Becky is laughing at some witticism I've made rather than my dance moves...