Sananda Maitreya, 63 and still bringing it, returned to the UK stage after nearly two decades, a hero's welcome awaiting him. The former Terence Trent D'Arby has undergone a transformation, shedding his iconic dreadlocks but retaining that signature grin. As he took the mic, it was clear that his voice remains an astonishing instrument – capable of conveying both airy sweetness and gut-wrenching power.
Maitreya's band, the Sugar Plum Pharaohs, provided a lively backdrop to his performance, injecting funk and high-energy backing vocals into the mix. The extended high falsetto note in 'Delicate' elicited its own spontaneous ovation from the audience, which was more enthusiastic than full but palpably supportive nonetheless.
The setlist spanned decades and genres, taking the audience on a musical journey that veered from psychedelic funk to pretty ballads. A highlight came with the Motown-y gem 'Billy Don't Fall', sung with sublime emotion. While quality control had always been Maitreya's Achilles heel, there were only minor wobbles – a couple of so-so rockers in the second half – that detracted from an otherwise impressive performance.
A beautifully plaintive rendition of 'Let Her Down Easy' showcased his ability to craft terrific songs even when fewer people got to hear them. The crowd was soon singing along to the funky 'Dance Little Sister', and Maitreya's infectious energy kept things lively throughout. Even 'If You Let Me Stay', an obvious crowd-pleaser, received a thoughtful approach that avoided resorting to overplayed tropes.
Despite the nostalgia factor, Maitreya refused to be pigeonholed as a relic of the past, instead opting for a performance that was both celebratory and forward-looking. As he quipped at one point, "This is what clubs are for," it was clear that Sananda Maitreya still had plenty to offer – and the audience was eager to receive it.
Maitreya's band, the Sugar Plum Pharaohs, provided a lively backdrop to his performance, injecting funk and high-energy backing vocals into the mix. The extended high falsetto note in 'Delicate' elicited its own spontaneous ovation from the audience, which was more enthusiastic than full but palpably supportive nonetheless.
The setlist spanned decades and genres, taking the audience on a musical journey that veered from psychedelic funk to pretty ballads. A highlight came with the Motown-y gem 'Billy Don't Fall', sung with sublime emotion. While quality control had always been Maitreya's Achilles heel, there were only minor wobbles – a couple of so-so rockers in the second half – that detracted from an otherwise impressive performance.
A beautifully plaintive rendition of 'Let Her Down Easy' showcased his ability to craft terrific songs even when fewer people got to hear them. The crowd was soon singing along to the funky 'Dance Little Sister', and Maitreya's infectious energy kept things lively throughout. Even 'If You Let Me Stay', an obvious crowd-pleaser, received a thoughtful approach that avoided resorting to overplayed tropes.
Despite the nostalgia factor, Maitreya refused to be pigeonholed as a relic of the past, instead opting for a performance that was both celebratory and forward-looking. As he quipped at one point, "This is what clubs are for," it was clear that Sananda Maitreya still had plenty to offer – and the audience was eager to receive it.
. Still, can't deny the dude's got bars 
. The energy in the room was electric, and it's awesome to see him bringing that funk back 
. Not everyone was on point, but like, who cares? It's Sananda Maitreya we're talking about – the man's a legend 
.
! This performance by Sananda Maitreya reminded me of the good old days of 90s alternative music. You know, when you could just sit back and let your favorite artists bring the house down with their iconic sound. His voice is still giving me chills, it's like he's channeling the spirits of his former self 
. I loved how he kept things fresh by mixing up the setlist - psychedelic funk to Motown-y goodness... it was like a musical journey through the decades. Although, I did catch him slipping up on a couple of tracks in the second half 
. Still, it's not about being perfect when you're performing at that age... 63 is still pretty fly for a rockstar 
.
! he's really evolved his sound over the years, you can tell he's been practicing 
. the crowd loved him and it was infectious - even if there were a couple of tracks that were kinda meh 
. but honestly, who cares? Sananda Maitreya is still got that magic 
and I'm here for all the funk, rock, and ballads 
!
, gotta say his voice is still insane 
, but that's not surprising since he's been doing this for ages 
. what really impressed me though is how he doesn't just phone it in anymore 
, like he's really grown as a songwriter and performer over the years. the crowd loved him of course, but I think that's 'cause they're all just feeling nostalgic 
. anyway, can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve 
. Back in my day, we were all about the iconic albums and singles, not this streaming service nonsense 
. But hey, I'm glad Sananda Maitreya is still killing it after all these years 
. That voice of his still gives me chills, and I love how he's evolved as an artist without losing that soulful vibe 
. The Sugar Plum Pharaohs are a great addition to his band, they really helped bring out the funkiness in 'Delicate' 
️. Reminds me of when I used to go to those small club gigs where everyone was there for the music 
.
his music is like a reflection of his growth – it's not the same as before but still got that magic 
The dude's voice is insane, like butter for your soul 
. And that band of his, Sugar Plum Pharaohs? 
They brought the funk and energy to match Sananda's vocals. I loved how he mixed it up with old songs and new vibes - it was like a musical journey through time! 
iconic! i'm not surprised he still has a huge following after all these years - he's just too talented to ignore 
I mean, I know the guy's a legend and all, but you'd think there would be more people out there who still care about his music. That being said, the energy when he did play some of his old hits was infectious, even if it felt like we were watching a slideshow at times. 
Still, Sananda Maitreya's got the voice and the stage presence to back it up, so kudos for that.
I loved how he mixed up the setlist to keep us guessing and singing along all night 
. Can't wait to see what he does next 
! And let's be real, that signature grin of his is still working its magic 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good Motown cover? 
and those falsetto notes tho 
. Can't wait for more of this!
what i don't get is why some of the newer tracks didn't quite live up to the rest, feels like they might've been a little too polished? still though, he's a legend for a reason and this show was pure magic 
that "if you let me stay" song was SO beautiful 
even if some of those rockers were a bit meh, the positives far outweighed that 
. And man, his voice? Still got it 
. A couple of so-so rockers in the second half didn't ruin the whole show for me. And can we talk about that 'Let Her Down Easy' performance? 
. He refused to play it safe and stuck to his guns - that "This is what clubs are for" quip had me nodding in agreement