Plan B 

Live reviews

• Plan B

  Plan B’s transformation from grime-oriented, underground upstart to arena-touring, genuinely credible soul singer has to represent one of the most stunning trnasformations in recent musical history. Granted, a quick look over the production credits for 'Who Needs Actions When You Got Words' will likely dispel suggestions that it was some kind of bedroom project, but even so, just the fact that he ditched those stylings for something considerably more clean-cut was, in itself, surprising. There is something that connects the Plan B of old with the one who made The Defamation of Strickland Banks, though; his penchant for storytelling. Concept albums don’t normally go four times platinum in the UK, but 'Strickland Banks' is an exception, and the stage show that Ben Drew put together to accompany it - a sharp-suited band, a backdrop designed to look like an old-school movie theatre, a plethora of backing singers and a brass section - all served to complement the story that Drew was trying to tell. More recently, he had the bravery to take on the middle classes - who surely made up the bulk of his fanbase during the 'Strickland Banks' era - with the soundtrack for his directorial debut, 'Ill Manors;' whether it’ll pay dividends is yet to be seen, but there’s no question that he’s pushing the envelope - both onstage and off - in a manner that few other British artists can honestly claim to have done.

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  by Joeg_67

• Back in 2010 I saw Plan B perform at the Western Park V Festival venue. The London-based rapper and songwriter had recently released his second album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks and She Said was echoing from seemingly every music program and radio station in Britain.

  A relatively new name on the mainstream scene, Plan B attracted an unusually large crowd for his early afternoon time slot. The audience wanted to hear more from the apparently multi-talented Harry Brown actor. Plan B delivered an entertainingly eclectic performance. Early in the set he treated the crowd to a live rendition of She Said. Though Plan B didn’t stick to a straight performance of his own work. One of the artist’s greatest strengths is his willingness to experiment onstage. The band soon launched into a reggae take on the hit. The new slant on the by-now familiar tune was a welcome surprise.

  Indeed, Plan B and co further demonstrated their versatility. At one point the Plan B instructed the crowd to open mosh pits. A sharp contrast to his laid back cover of Paolo Nutini’s ‘Coming up Easy.’

  Plan B played a great festival set. Varied, musically interesting and thoroughly entertaining, the performance satisfied the expectant crowd.

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  by Han93

• Was a great night!!! His support band The Misfits.. where a good laugh and there songs are good!! I was enjoying dancing away with my fiancé while Ben drew kept looking over at us!! He sang some of his older songs aswell as many from his new album!! I wish I paid for VIP tickets though...

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  by stephanie-fraser-2

• Ate to much & wore the wrong shoes! Plan b and crew appeared on stage no more sore feet danced the night away to an amazing high enrergy set. New tunes and favorites with a new spin brilliant! Don't know wot face paint was about but who cares. Fantastic yet again.

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  by feedme69

• Bloody brilliant!!! Very talented guy, love his music and love the venue. Could have been on longer though, his back catalogue is big enough. Loved the sound and he used all of the stage.

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  by jan-whitcombe