Not Strictly Ballroom

Friday night, I went to The Great Hall for my first show in a larger venue. There was still a pandemic limit of 230 people but James Baley promised an extravaganza. I had seen them doing harmony for other artists as well as opening for U.S. Girls. They weren't just a singer but also active in fashion and other artistic pursuits. So in the Conversation Room, the Baley team has created a multimedia experience. From looping clips playing on old TVs, to a video projection under gauzy curtains, to various mannequins sporting custom design, it was a glimpsed into various facets of the artist.

The main concert hall was laid out with closely packed chairs. But during the show, about half the attendees stood on the 2nd-level balcony, probably to better dance and groove. So there was plenty of room on the ground floor.

Ceréna opened the show with a high-energy solo set. She reminded me of Regina Gently, someone else who could also engage the crowd and dial up the temperature. I wonder what they could both do with a live band and not just backing tracks.

I was expecting a night full of fun and sass from Baley. They definitely delivered that with appearances from 2 dancers and guest vocals from Twysted (Saviour, Banishment). But it was the emotional content (Call On Me, Clean Me) elevated by the sublime harmonies of Lydia Persaud, Ky Charter, and Zaki Ibrahim that stood out. Lit by a projected orb that was in turn the moon, the sun, and colourful gradients, Baley gave a wonderful performance. Tonight obviously took a lot of preparation and they were overcome with tears when the audience demanded an encore.

The Great Hall had huge crowds about a decade ago when there was a question mark about how many people it could legally host. Although the full renovation in 2016 restored its grandeur, the city bureaucrats drastically reduced its capacity during certification. Since then, I have never experienced the same level of energy here until tonight. The queer, BIPOC, and Black crowd whooped, clapped, and danced throughout the evening. I was sad that because of an early rise tomorrow, I couldn't stay to enjoy the after-party ballroom scene down in the basement venue. But it was a fantastic show to say farewell.