Jay Sean Tickets

 Jay Sean hit the capital on Monday night at the Hammersmith Apollo for his Homecoming Tour. Prior to the release of his fourth studio album Freeze Time next year, the West London singer is touring the UK giving back to his fans for all their years of support performing a selection of his older hits and laying down some of the tracks that made the 30-year-old one of country’s biggest international breakout stars. TaleTela was invited down to see the show…

Supporting Jay Sean on his homecoming Tour in Hammersmith was singer Talay Riley and UK MC Skepta. Riley hit his most ambitious notes has soon as he hit the stage, and whilst his presence and overall act didn’t immediately lift him up above his many UK contemporaries, his vibrant chart contending hits really left a mark. The crowd lapped up tracks ‘Go Getter,’ and ‘Good As Gold,’ and for the latter, rapper Scorcher who features on the track, joined the singer on stage revelling in the attention on the night. After Riley ended with a convincing version of Beyoncé’s ‘Halo’, the stage was left for Skepta to eventually take the spotlight.

The longtime friend and collaborator of Jay Sean said during his set: “This guy is an absolute legend, I was supposed to be away but when he asked me to do this – I had to stay.” The Hackney MC then treated the audience to hits, ‘Rescue Me’ and ‘Cross My Heart’ which saw the crowd sing along and then scream with delight when he blasted out the Jay Sean-featured ‘Stay (Boy Better Know Remix.)’ After politely asking, “Can I do one more song London?” the 29-year-old ripped into ‘Too Many Men,’ jumping around with glee, temporarily turning the venue into a rave.

Basked in an intense red light, a lone sexy dancer grinded and popped her way onto the stage before the man himself, Jay Sean, dressed in a suit and shades appeared onstage to the loudest cheer of the night to sing ‘Ride It.’ The Harlesden born singer’s impeccable band introduced his tracks with intricate updated arrangements, and completely captured the sexual undercurrent Jay’s slower tracks emanate. The singer continued fill the first part of the gig with his more subtle hits like ‘Stay’ and ‘Love’ then gleefully telling the audience: “I can’t believe I am back in my hometown with all my peeps!”

Despite the large production values behind the show, it is doubtful many of the fans would say that the Cash Money artist has changed at all since releasing his first charting single in 2004. The singer made an authentic effort to give the fans what they wanted with the gig coming off like a variety show as the star would act out skits, beat box, rap and share stories with the fans – some of the these were overdone when songs could have been performed instead, but most of the crowd really didn’t seem to mind and hung onto every word.

The venue erupted with camera phones as Jay turnt back time to sing his debut track ‘Eyes On You’ and performed it like no time had passed at all. The singer’s band graciously backed up the singer as he sung ‘Maybe’ and filled the venue with luscious piano as Jay spoke about the success meaning nothing to him if he had no one to share it with before hitting ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ from 2009’s ‘All Or Nothing.’ Tracks ‘She Has No Time’ and ‘Where Do We Go’ allowed Jay’s sincere vocals to take center stage as they were frequently engulfed when performing his bigger tracks.

After a brief interlude Jay returned to the stage in a black and silver YMCMB jumper to perform ‘Say Yes’ with Juggy D then taking to the stage to perform beside the star for a nostalgic performance of ‘Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)’ after which Jay Sean jokingly quipped about his long time singer friend, “That guy is a manic.”

From this point onwards Jay dropped the hits that his US fans most know him by – turning up the volume, and filling the room up with strobe lights to belt out a run of ‘Hit The Lights,’ ‘Do You Remember’ and ‘2012 (It Ain't the End).’ A truly celebratory atmosphere dominated as the singer, clearly having a great time ended the night with ‘Down.’ The show was littered with a handful of moments fans of the star will remember for a long, long time, way into his next chapter with Nicki Minaj and co.

Jay Sean performing at Key 103 Live...