Benjamin Francis Leftwich, supported by Nadia Kadek (Nov 24)

My sixth week of watching live music at venues across the South and abroad took me back to Papillon, the renovated church in Southampton. It was Emma’s first time here.

We bought tickets to see Benjamin Francis Leftwich at the very last minute, jumping on a bus at the end of our road which gets us onto town within 20 minutes. He was supported by Nadia Kadek, a Norfolk singer songwriter who now lives in London. She is on her first tour and this is her third night.

Both are incredibly talented, with lovely storytelling between songs and beautiful guitar work.

Benjamin both started and ended his gig completely unplugged. On both occasions he stepped off the stage with no mic or amp, and with a hushed audience was supported only by the natural acoustics of the old church.

It sounds like he’s had an amazing decade or more with experiences both in Europe and the USA, leading to a straightening out of his life after a visit to the Priory a few years ago. His story telling was wonderful, with mentions of close relationships with other artists I’ve listened to in years gone by, including Sam Duckworth of GCWCF fame.

Both artists were wonderful, this venue is ideal for intimate acoustic sets like this.