Man of the moment Plan B graced the stage at Cornwall’s Eden Sessions on Friday night and delivered a hit-heavy and pitch-perfect set. Fans may worry that his new Ill Manors film project might distract him from his live shows, but we’re pleased to report that this is not the case – his live set is still as superb as ever.
London-born Ny opened the show with a strong set of dance and acoustic tracks. Starting off with the bass-driven Trophy Boy, she grooves her way through a couple of catchy dance numbers before moving smoothly into an acoustic cover of Wonderwall – as you would expect, she had the whole crowd singing along! Set against the backdrop of the stunning biodomes of the Eden Project, the mass singalong provided the first real moment of the night.
Next up was Bebe Black, who treated the capacity crowd to a selection of catchy dance tracks from her as-yet unreleased debut album. She delivered an enjoyable and soulful performance – her Amy Winehouse inspired vocals swept softly through the Eden arena, impressing even the most hardened of rap fans.
Anticipation grows amongst the crowd in the hour between Bebe’s set and the start of the show, but as soon as Plan B struts onto the stage he’s got the audience in the palm of his hand. Opening up with Writing’s On The Wall from 2010’s The Defamation of Strickland Banks, the rapper (real name Ben Drew) croons sweetly into a microphone as the band merge Writing’s On The Wall with hit single Prayin’. The crowd scream, shout and sing back every word – they’re well and truly hooked.
Fan favourite Welcome to Hell follows and by now Plan B and his sharp-suited band are well and truly in the groove. Every note is delivered with a professionalism that betrays his tender years, and the Eden Project as a venue is simply fantastic. The band rattle through modern day classics such as The Recluse, Love Goes Down and What You Gonna Do before coming to the biggest singalong of the night and Plan B’s biggest hit, She Said. The sound of the crowd bellowing back every word as Plan B struggles to be heard is not something we’ll forget in a hurry.
And that was the end of Strickland Banks. Plan B and band rush off stage, to be replaced by beatboxer Faith SFX. There’s no easy way to explain what he does – it’s beatboxing, but on a WHOLE new level. Type his name in on YouTube and see for yourself. Faith SFX had the crowd going wild for a good fifteen minutes before being joined onstage by Plan B and his band. Hoodies, jeans and t-shirts have replaced the sharp suits and ties – welcome to Ill Manors.
Half an hour of bass-led rap and dance followed, leaving the Eden crowd exhausted. Single Ill Manors was a singalong hit, and new single Lost My Way could well go down as a live favourite. An impressive light show and furiously fast freestyling shows that Plan B is not just a soulful singer but an angry and entertaining rapper. An encore of Stay Too Long topped the night off and ensured everyone went home on a high (and probably with one or two songs lodged permanently in their minds). Exciting, exhausting and exhilarating – Plan B is one of the best live acts we’ve ever seen.