Fred Roberts closes big 2024 with headline Omeara show.
It's with nothing short of a sprint that Fred Roberts arrives on stage for a landmark show at Omeara in London on Friday night.
Photos by Millie JP
The 22-year-old has hardly had a chance to stop over the past two weeks, only touching down back in the U.K. 24 hours ago having toured the continent supporting Griff. The rising star may have had little time to gather himself, but there's a huge grin across his face as the opening tones of 'Sound of My Youth' whirr into life.
Roberts' biggest headline show to date sees the 320-capacity venue builds on the 220-cap The Courtyard Theatre earlier this year and the intimate room of 150 friends and family at The Social 14 months ago. It's a real moment in the singer's career, and as he pauses for breath before the final chorus of that raucous opener, there's a feeling he's aware of it too.
What's clear at Omeara is that we are only scratching the surface of a songwriter finding his place in the industry. The tracks from 2024's debut EP are highlights but the room knows lyrics of deeper, unreleased cuts as well.
The Bruce Springsteen-esque 'Desire' comes early in the set and there's a swagger in his hips as he ditches the guitar for 'Goodbye'.
"I'm very out of it," Fred confesses at one stage, admitting to having picked up the start of a lurgy following his European travels. "I've been on tour with Griff across Europe and now I'm here, I'm dreaming."
There's a nod to Griff later on in the night as he strips back the vocoder-heavy 'Where Did You Go?' to make it his own guitar-led tale of loss. There's also time for a Taylor Swift cover in 'August', which goes down a treat.
Elsewhere, latest single 'Get It Over With' is met with a wall of sound on the bridge and 'Disguise' is a story of queer heartbreak told with a smile. Meanwhile, the unreleased 'Everything' ends with one fan begging that he 'release it' now.
A highlight of the night comes as Nieve Ella is brought onto stage to duet the star's standout track to date in 'Naive'. There's a chemistry between the two long-term pals that fills the room - Roberts admitting the two have fond memories listening to the track in the car together.
For all the coming-of-age heartbreak that peppers the star's release to date, Friday night at Omeara ends with a bang. There's a knowing smirk that comes before 'Runaway' - a pop rock flick that could fill any room - and he gets the dance party he calls for on 'Say'.
