Last night was yet again another beautiful testament to the creative cauldron of talent we have bubbling in the UK right now. ILUVLIVE never fails to deliver, and it is one of the few events, to grab my attention for an entire night.

It’s the simplicity, pure talent and laid-back set-up that allows for the energy to stay in a continual flow all night from artists to audience and right back again. But unless you attend the next ILUVLIVE you’ll never really fully understand what I mean. For those who didn’t make it the artists you missed are as follows; Lowkey, Blacks, Emeli Sande, Sewuese, Obenewa, Jesse Appiah and Kelly Lee.

In true ILUVLIVE tradition, the winner of last week’s 60 second open mic competition kicked off the show, and boy did Jesse Appiah kick it off.

Jesse hit us with a soulfully tuned start to the show. His sound is similar to a young Ginuwine…no lie ladies that’s who he sounds like! I’m looking forward to hearing more of him soon.

The following act was a young lady name Kelly Lee. One of the most powerful voices of the night, this young lady came with a supporting band and a backing singer, she’s obviously been taking her music seriously and has put a lot of effort in what she’s doing. The song which stood out for me was ‘If I Ruled The World’ a bright catchy number which got me singing along off guard.

Blacks took over next "Repping The Grime Scene" as told by host Twin B with his O.G'z crew members Jendor and Desperado; and they did their grimey thang! Blacks and Co offered the crowd tracks from his new mixtape ‘Sick Individual’ which I listened to this morning with utter grimey

satisfaction. He performed a track off the mixtape "Superstars" which featured Roll Deep’s Manga while still carrying a distinctive trademark 'Blacks' sound.

His final tune was 'You Don’t Know Me’. The tracks were without a doubt intriguing and he left the stage to a enthusiastic applause.

The next act is what I believe ILUVLIVE is all about; discovering hidden talent! A young lady by the name of Obenewa was very impressive. Her voice A*, her presence humbling yet demanding and she overall just smacked it!

She preformed one song with keyboard, then her next track she picked up a guitar. Miss Obenewa played the instruments and sung like it was second nature to her all at once! She was impressive. Her Mixtape ‘Therapy’ is out to download now from her website (http://obenewa.blogspot.com/) another young talent who is putting the work in so lend her your ears and appreciate.

The young lady who followed goes by the name of Sewuese. Sweuese kept it real, she kept it soulful and she preformed in confidence with the mic. The track ‘Lemonade’ was a sweet n zingy track! With her stunning voice, Sweuese is another example of the array of talented young women the UK can be proud of.

So you know that new Wiley track ‘Never Be Your Woman’ that’s stuck in your head almost immediately after you hear it? Well that addictive chorus is thanks to the incredible Emeli Sande. She’s possibly got a new groupie on her hands... me! Emeli Sande hurls out a powerful and energetic voice, but what I loved the most is her sheer energy and I’m sure the crowd felt it too. Emeli Sande also seems to encompass a wholesome talent for writing; her track ‘Daddy’ just made me smile throughout. The fresh-out-of-Scotland Emeli Sande is 100% one to watch out for and the crowd absolutely loved her.

Finally the most anticipated man of the night without a doubt was Lowkey. Wow and wow again, no matter how many times I hear ‘Alphabet Assassin’ I’m blown away and hearing it live got me tongue tied without even speaking!

Possibly one of the best lyrists the UK, the rapper Lowkey was joined on stage with the best beatboxer in the UK Faith SFX (who has to be superhuman or something because the sounds he makes are just not natural!)

Together Faith SFX and Lowkey preformed ‘Something Wonderful’; the title says it all really. Lowkey as always provides a conscious message in his music, and his tribute song to Iraq was no exception. What Lowkey did is he left the majority of the crowd in a state of thought provoking awe.

At the end of the night all there is to say, is... I love ILUVLIVE!

WORDS: FADAH JASSEM