If there’s one way to please indie-rock fans, it’s a good ol’ fashioned double-header.
And that’s what fans were treated to in style on the opening night of Plymouth Summer Sessions 2025, as the inimitable James and modern-day indie legends Razorlight kicked off this year’s premier sea-facing summertime spectacular.
First up, we had Razorlight. Led by the ever-animated Johnny Borrell, the London-born indie heroes wasted no time getting stuck in, delivering tight, punchy versions of fan favourites like In the Morning, America and Golden Touch. There was an immediacy and energy to their performance that suited the setting – no frills, just a band clearly enjoying being back in front of a summertime crowd. While the material didn’t surprise, it didn’t need to – Razorlight played to their strengths and got the evening off to a strong, upbeat start.
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And then came James, stepping on stage just as the sun dipped behind the rooftops (and, of course, the lighthouse).
From the opening notes of Johnny Yen, it was clear that they weren’t here to simply wheel out the hits. Their set moved with purpose and poise, blending the reflective and the anthemic with the ease that comes from decades of honing their craft. Despite the band’s somewhat less than youthful nature – with this being their first Plymouth show since 1998 – Tim Booth, a man forever in constant motion, remains a magnetic presence. Whether pirouetting across the stage or leaning into the crowd, he draws people in – not with bravado, but with openness and emotional honesty.
Recent tracks nestled comfortably alongside older favourites, and were met with the kind of welcome that suggests fans have embraced the band’s evolution rather than just clinging to their back catalogue. Still, it was the classics that brought the most visible joy. She’s A Star and Laid sounded huge against the backdrop of the sea and city, with even the most nonchalant of neighbours sure to have noticed the ensuing din that came from the crowd roaring back the lyrics to the former and dancing along to the latter.
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Inevitably, Sit Down was the night’s biggest moment.
But instead of feeling obligatory, it landed with warmth, sung in full voice by a crowd that felt genuinely moved to be sharing the moment together. Even the most familiar songs were delivered with care and freshness.
By the time the final notes faded, the lights across the Hoe shimmered like an exhale. This wasn’t a set built on spectacle or gimmick, but on the strength of songwriting, performance, and connection. James continue to prove they’re not a band trading on past glories – they’re still growing, still giving, and still capable of turning a night out into something quietly unforgettable.
