Review: Jack Savoretti triumphs at Portsmouth Guildhall October 2026
Who? That was my response when a friend mentioned Jack Savoretti earlier this year. Then I heard a song on the radio and thought “what a voice, must find out more”. Hence I am at a sold-out Portsmouth Guildhall on a typically Autumnal evening.
A very mixed audience age-wise, young and not so young, chatted away in heightened anticipation; was I the only person in the audience never to have knowingly heard a single song of Jack? Probably!
Lights down, on came slowly a young singer songwriter, Steph Fraser, from Blackpool, straight into singing without music (Magpie), such a difficult skill, beautifully done. Half-way though on came long-time collaborator and guitarist Jonny Wright, their voices melding perfectly well.
Two people, centre stage, limited lighting, singing and playing to a very respectful audience, six songs pass all too quickly. Steph’s vocal range was impressive, hinting at the full power in the last song of the evening, her style difficult to pigeon hole. Her physical performance at times reminded me of Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span), vocally, Carole King or Karen Carpenter. Steph referenced her debut album (When We Make It) just released, independently and not available on any streaming platform, how she met Jack Savoretti and that she was pulling pints in a pub just two years ago. Remember the name.
On strolled a very casually dressed Jack to a quite darkly lit stage where the lighting was from various uplighters (different heights), looking like Martian antennae. A very impressive five-piece band laid the foundation for 90 minutes of exceptionally good and varied music. Jack has a very powerful and very clear vocal style, straight into Do It For Love with a smoky atmospheric backdrop, the backscreen used with various projected innovative lighting effects.
Candelight featured the talented suitably restrained Sam Lewis (guitar) and a whistling Jack (unusual these days), echoing Duane Eddy meets James Bond meets The Good, The Bad…; other references throughout the show for me (and other members of the audience) included Joe Cocker, Bruce Springsteen, David Gray, James Blunt and even Imelda May (rockabilly) in styles. At different times Jack asked the audience to stand, then sit, which all did dutifully, great fun and very effective.
The One, very upbeat, When We Were Lovers, lots of audience jigging (some aching limbs the next day), Anything But A Fool, with some terrific drumming from Jesper Lind, ably accompanied by Sam Davies (bass), and Shannon Harris and Nikolaj Torp (piano, keyboards, harmonica and accordion).
Two highlights, new album title track We Will Always Be The Way We Were, and I Hear You Calling building to a rock-along ending.
The rest of the show was full of highlights, including a duet with Steph on the jointly written Only Gonna Cry For You, the poignant Can Hurt Sometimes, inspired by his late father, the overall highlight for me Knock Knock, a fantastic song, Catapult, his breakthrough song on Graham Norton’s, the excellent Home, a good rocking song ending with Io Che Non Vivo (Senza Te), You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me/Dusty Springfield to you and me.
Who? Not any more. A fantastic concert. Do yourself a favour, highly recommended for next time.
Ken Ebbens
Flash radio host