Damon Albarn last night [October 1] performed a secret, last-minute show with soul singer Bobby Womack at the Notting Hill Arts Club.
The impromptu gig was announced via the XL Recordings Twitter account on Friday evening [October 29], and followers were invited to email for the chance to win tickets.
Albarn and Womack, who released his 2012 album The Bravest Man In The Universe earlier this year, were joined by Richard Russell, the owner of XL, on drum machines, producer Kwes on keyboards, TV On The Radio’s Jaleel Bunton on bass and Remi Kabaka on percussion.
Womack began with an instrumental version of “Dayglo Reflection” before launching into “Deep River”, which he dedicated to XL, calling the label “the best family I’ve ever been in”. After singing “Please Forgive My Heart” and “The Bravest Man In the Universe”, Womack ended the performance with “Jubilee”. The set was taken entirely from his latest album, except from a version of “If You Don’t Want My Love (Give It Back)” from his 1971 album “Communication”.
The concert was attended by an audience of 100, including Lizzie Jagger, Mark Ronson and Ronson’s French actress wife Josephine De La Baume. Ronson and Oneman DJ-ed.
Womack’s band played:
‘Dayglo Reflection (instrumental)’
‘Deep River’
‘If You Don’t Want My love’
‘Please Forgive My Heart’
‘The Bravest Man In The Universe’
‘Jubilee’