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Review: Royall Sound, Trinity Centre – ‘A winning, high-octane homecoming’
Here we are then. Trinity Centre. Two-stepping within its spires and beyond its grand facade. The church walls reverberate and the lo-fi lighting bounces nicely off the cornices onto the slowly accumulating crowd.
The night kicks off with rousing support from emerging DJ APH and established name on the scene Riya, as thin shards of light breach the blinds over the stained-glass windows. Arriving shy of 9pm and feeling your bones rock at 160bpm is slightly strange, but it’s as good a spot as any for this bass-heavy homecoming. The demographic is fascinating, too, with older ravers having it in abundance..
We’re here for Royall Sound — ‘the brand new live experience from Ruth Royall’, a project that rolls through on British soil for the first time following a sold-out show in Amsterdam.
is needed now More than ever
Ruth Royall and Royall Sound at Trinity – credit Samuel Fletcher
If Royall is akin to royalty in Bristol’s D&B scene, it’s clear to see why. She’s a brilliant bundle of energy throughout the two-hour set despite being really rather pregnant.
So yeah… that kid’s going to be a bass-head. And yeah… we’re captivated from the jump. And yeah… Royall’s voice is bold and beautiful, priming you for the live drums and then stealing your attention from the beat even when it’s in full flow and you’re in full flow with it. Serious pair of lungs on her.
Drum and bass as a live spectacle can hinge on one killer player on a full kit. Fortunately, session drummer Rhian Williams comes through with the most staggering skill and stamina. Not only is the beat consistently crisp, but I don’t know if I’ve seen that sort of enigmatic endurance before. In any discipline. Ever. It’s up there with Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon.
The horns are a wonderful feature, too. Three fellas coming to the fore with fills and lending a touch of funk to proceedings. It’s genuinely festival-esque energy, and the crowd roars in response.
Ruth Royall was a bundle of energy throughout her 2-hour set – photo: Royall Sound
Throughout the gig, Royall introduces a series of guests, each of which offers their own vocal turns with astonishing aplomb. When she’s back front-and-centre, she performs several favourites — none so more electric and warming than Remedies — plus some well-timed floor-filling staples like Afterglow and Superstylin’ to see things out.
It’s a slick, scintillating show by all accounts. Considering it’s an entirely new one bodes well for its future on the circuit, with some lively nights on the cards up and down the country. Keep your eyes peeled!
Main photo: Royall Sound
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