When Chaka Khan curated this year's Meltdown Festival lineup, Lady Blackbird, aka Marley Munroe, must have been a standout choice. Omitting an artist often compared to Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, and dubbed the 'Grace Jones of jazz', would have been unthinkable. After an impressive two-hour performance by Incognito the night before, expectations for Lady Blackbird's set were through the roof.
The stage darkened and, as visibility diminished, Lady Blackbird's four-piece band began with the instrumental song “Black Acid Soul” from their debut LP of the same name. The haunting jazz piano intro, combined with deft guitar and bass lines, created a surreal dreamscape at the Royal Festival Hall. “Collage” followed, keeping the atmosphere ethereal while infusing elements of psychedelic mysticism. As “Collage” progressed, the lighting revealed the band members and showcased Lady Blackbird’s graceful, original, and elegant presence.
Nina Simone's 1963 release “Blackbird” became a civil rights anthem, and Lady Blackbird's performance, released two days after George Floyd's murder, took on poignant relevance. Her version, featuring acoustic double bass and piano trills, resonated deeply with the Royal Festival Hall audience. Moving on from such a powerful song, she showed a lighter side with “Five Feet Tall,” a timeless, easy-listening piece reminiscent of Patsy Cline and Nat King Cole.
Lady Blackbird's ability to transport audiences to surreal, haunting yet ecstatic dreamscapes transitioned seamlessly into upbeat, rhythmic funk. “Reborn” served as a dance anthem with a poignant message of renewal, while “Feel It Comin'” fused sounds reminiscent of Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry on Their Own” and Jamiroquai’s “Seven Days in Sunny June,” making them yours in a unique way. .
Opening the show with a powerful and unnerving atmosphere, Lady Blackbird captivated the audience with songs like “Blackbird,” which highlights humanity's flaws and evokes deep emotions. She concluded with a tribute to the LGBT community through an emotional performance of Noël Coward's “I Am What I Am,” leaving the Royal Festival Hall in awe.
With a new album, spiritual slang, on the horizon, fans eagerly anticipate the evolution of Lady Blackbird’s “Black Acid Soul” sound. Those lucky enough to witness her performance at Meltdown will certainly appreciate the experience.
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