Global stardom awaits Gavin James as he lights up Live at the Marquee

Is Gavin James inevitably bound for global stardom? For last night’s ecstatic young Live At The Marquee fans, he’s clearly already there. When every single person in this capacity, high-profile venue canonises his quest, it does seem like you’re watching an unstoppable train. One thing is for sure, you’d have to go a long way to hear a sweeter voice.

He has a powerful range, his delivery is hugely emotionally charged, and he effortlessly whips everyone in this heaving tent into a poetic carnival fervour.

There’s no denying the beauty of his own songs. There’s great maturity in the lyrics of songs like ‘For You, Nervous’ and ‘Coming Home’.

A song like ‘22’ has real resonance with this young crowd, the tale of a younger Gavin gazing forward to the day when he’d be a young adult. He scales fantastic heights with mega-hits such as ‘Bitter Pill’, which this audience knows.

Finbarr Pyne, Jody Cummins, and Mike and Nora Connolly at the concert of Gavin James. Picture: Branky Salat

“First time I did a gig in Cork there were 20 people, then 30 then 50 and now this. Thanks so much,” he said.

Just like this adoring audience, I find there’s just no human way to resist his take on ‘The Book of Love’, his version of which is up there with the original by Magnetic Fields, or indeed Peter Gabriel’s cover.

It seems hard to believe that his first album, Live At Whelans, was only released in November 2014. His rise has been nothing short of meteoric. “The first time we met him, his manager wanted to talk to him about his world tour,” said Ryan Hennessy of ace warm-up act Picture This. “He was more excited about buying a new goldfish. We instantly loved him because of that. “

Neadin and Aisling Foley from Charleville at the Gavin James concert at Live at the Marquee. Picture: Branky Salat

Gavin James included Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’ as part of an epic encore. He is a performer of real depth and quality, destined for greatness. Adele and Ed Sheeran have warmed to him. Now he has passed the Marquee acid test, there’s no stopping him.