Source: The Evening Standard
Emeli Sandé and Katy B joined Annie Lennox to sing in the name of sisterhood at the Southbank Centre: Rating 3/5
A rousing rendition of Sisters are Doing it for Themselves was the inevitable conclusion of Annie Lennox’s second annual celebration of womanhood at the Southbank Centre. Otherwise it was her speaking voice that did the work.
“This year I felt I’d rather be a hostess,” she said from behind a lectern, to the obvious disappointment of many. She proved to be a passionate compere, however, equally enthusiastic about her desire to “reclaim and re-evaluate the word ‘feminist’” as she was about the three young musicians she introduced.
Number one star Emeli Sandé, Mercury nominee Katy B and wispy newcomer Jess Mills played brief sets in between speeches from Lennox and videos. In the interests of equality it was disappointing to see only one female backing musician between them, but all took pains to point out the women’s issues in their songs. Sandé’s Daddy was about an unhealthy relationship, and Katy B’s Easy Please Me depicted disrespectful men on the pull.
A stripped-down set allowed Sandé’s mighty pipes to dominate but Katy B was the highlight, an irrepressible performer who achieved the impossible and briefly got the crowd dancing. She won the night for me, though of course we’re all equals here.