Just a couple of weeks after her debut album landed, Biig Piig headlines at Manchester’s New Century Hall.
The tour comes in support of debut album 11:11 and whilst it puts the album at the fore of the 19-track set, it also delves into previous material, striking a good balance between the two.
From the outset, the artist (aka Jessica Smyth) is filled with energy. She moves around the stage with boundless enthusiasm and energy sporting a mile-wide smile as she kicks things off with album opener 4AM. The fan response is equally as exuberant.
Joining Biig Piig on stage are a bassist/saxophonist (who we must give a nod for an excellent sax solo during Roses and Gold) and a drummer who lay down the foil to her lyrical work.
Throughout the set, Biig Piig puts both sides of her musical character firmly on display. There’s relaxed, heavily jazz, trip-hop and R&B influenced tracks; but also a contrasting experimental dance meets drum’n’bass vibe. They generally mesh well providing subtle (but sometimes stark) contrasts, and emphasising highs and lows, although there is the odd occasion where it does feel like the crowd needs a bit more energy injecting in to it during some of the more chilled out moments.
For her part Biig Piig shifts effortlessly between both musical sides, embracing the contrasting elements, and throws herself fully in to the show whilst the buoyant crowd lap it up.
images courtesy @markwiththecamera
