The De La Warr Pavilion is a convivial and intimate venue, unmistakably belonging to the landscape of a pleasant and fairly small city like Bexhill. Alicia Masse reports who went to check him out.
However this Wednesday, the Pavilions rooms were filled with a powerful and internationally recognised voice. On that night, singer and songwriter Rag’ n’ Bone Man made sure to use his resonate his voice to carry an important message on behalf of the War Child UK charity: the number of countries and people being afflicted by war and conflicts isn’t diminishing. Gaza, Ukraine, Uganda and many other areas are being irreversibly changed, and the destruction cannot be seen in its entirety by simply looking at their landscapes;
Much of the impact of conflict unfolds in the minds of those who live through it, especially children. What sets War Child apart as a charity is its commitment not only to providing aid during crises but also to supporting children as they navigate the lasting challenges of growing up in conflict-affected areas. This includes ensuring access to education, helping them heal from trauma, and amplifying their voices. The proceeds from this event will go directly toward these vital initiatives, offering children the resources and support they need for a brighter future.
Before the main act, independent artist Jon Poppii offered a gentle opening to the night with soft vocals, acoustic guitar and piano, all skilfully displayed in his own unique way that has brought him a steady following.
Next was Elles Bailey, whose powerful voice carries the raw essence of American rock and blues—an unexpected yet captivating sound from a Bristol native.
Her compelling raspy voice and lyrics paint for the audience the picture of rides through American deserts and plains and falling in love in small traditional towns. For anyone interested in experiencing this for themselves, she will be touring with Rag’ n’ Bone Man for the next few weeks.
Despite their contrasting styles, Jon Poppii’s gentle lyrics and Elles Bailey’s powerful voice perfectly set the stage, creating an atmosphere that seamlessly led into the main act—an artist who blends these elements and more into his music. Radio presenter Mary Manderfield and War Child’s global music lead Jim Benner introduced him by reminding the audience the importance of this night’s performance. In their words, in times like these the charity has “a secret weapon, and that is you, music fans and incredible artists.”
As he stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers just as they would in one of his larger venues. Closing out the BRITs’ final night and marking his third performance for War Child, Rag’n’Bone Man kicked off the set with Lovers in a Past Life—a fan favorite crafted with Calvin Harris. From the very first note, the audience needed no persuasion. One of the advantages of having globally beloved hits is that when an artist’s live vocals match the power of their studio recordings, the crowd instinctively follows the rhythm, singing along without hesitation.
Rag’ n’ Bone’s vocals, on top of being as good as his studio voice, are even more impressively resounding in person. The band accompanying him knows how to emphasize and accompany the intensity of his vocal performance, the guitarist positively standing out in this case. His chemistry with the audience in between songs and his signature lyrical blend of empowering, humanly tender and sometimes rebellious sentiments all contributed to a show sustained by an energy which only died down long after his departure from the stage. This departure also marked the end of a night which, thanks to War Child UK, reminds us that art and music, especially when performed by people who know how to bring a room together, cannot be regarded as useless in times of political and humane struggles.
