A Voice for the Ages in a Venue of the Ages - Freya Ridings at Somerset House Summer Series 2025
- Dave Broome
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
Somerset House Summer Series 2025", London, 11th July 2025
IMAGES / WORDS DAVID BROOME
I have been to Somerset House lots of times, mostly for art exhibitions but once or
twice for other things like ice skating. Never for a concert though. It’s a stunning
location and have wondered how the grandeur and history would sit with a modern-
day pop concert. And above all ... where would they put it? Well, I need not have
worried because they have done a fantastic job of nestling a good-sized stage and
sufficient space for about 1,500 attendees into the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court
which in turn is framed on all sides by glorious Georgian-era 18 th century
architecture. It’s a truly spectacular venue.
The Somerset House Summer series has been going for over a decade in one form
or another. As curators of many an exhibition the curators of the summer series do a
great job of pulling together as diverse a mix of artists as you can imagine. This year
we have everything from Hip Hop to Jazz and Indie Rock to R&B. Tonight, we have
some soulful pop in the form of singer songwriter Freya Ridings who is supported by
rising star and younger sister of Hollywood A-lister Paul, Nell Mescal.
Irish singer songwriter Nell Mescal has a pure voice and is fitting for this setting
somehow. She has a brand of softly sung, delicate songs that don’t so much hit you
in the chest as float up to you and wrap their arms around you. Lost love and the
associated heartbreak is the dominant theme. Although she plays the guitar, she
has a constant male accompaniment in Charlie to do the heavy lifting. She has
released material over the last few years, so there are a few familiar tunes for the
ones who have done their research. With a number of gigs, including supporting
Pheobe Bridgers and a show at All Points East, behind her she has a confidence
that exceeds most support acts and delivers a confident and uplifting set.
It's been a scorching day in London—the temperature soared past 30 °C, and even by 9 pm, when Freya Ridings finally takes the stage at Somerset House, the air remains thick and humid. Tonight, a reminder that lots of people can sing, fewer sing well, and even fewer have a voice that truly resonates with character. Ridings possesses that rare quality: a powerful, husky voice laden with rasp, a tone so captivating I found myself thinking, I could listen to her sing the Yellow Pages—a charming nod to a phrase lost in the digital age.
She kicks off the evening with two fresh and unfamiliar tracks—“Wicker Woman” and “Battleship.” It’s clear she intends to present new material, and that’s a bold move. Thankfully, the songs are instantly engrossing—distinct, strong, and melodic from the first note. Phew! Highlights like “Mother of Pearl,” “Dancing in the Kitchen” (played on ukulele), and “I Have Always Loved You” are all yet-to-be-released cuts, and Ridings reassures us mid-set that her new album is “almost finished.”
Ridings has been steadily prolific since her debut single “Blackout” in 2017—two albums and several EPs, including the EP I Can’t Hear It Now, which featured on the Arcane soundtrack. Still, tonight's focus is firmly on the new, with only a small retrograce. The evening leans thoughtfully into the deep cuts: “Face in the Crowd,” “Weekends,” “Lost Without You” (her breakthrough), and she caps it with the stirring “Castles.” While fans might have hoped for more established hits, what unfolded felt less like a greatest-hits concert and more like an intimate preview of a new record. And on that measure, it was definitely compelling.
Watching her sing at Somerset House—an iconic Neoclassical courtyard framed by the soft glow of summer lights—elevates the experience. Her voice radiates effortlessly, her presence understated yet magnetic.
In the end, this performance tells you everything you need to know about the new album: it’s rich, emotionally direct, beautifully written, vocally assured. And it leaves you eager for more. Though I suspect a few left whispering, “It’s a shame she didn’t play…”—the unspoken hits they hoped would land. Yet the bravery of showcasing a future full of new music is something to admire.
The setlist:
Wicker Woman
Battleship
Can I Jump
Undefeated
Waking Up
Wild Horse
Mother of Pearl
I Have Always Loved You
Face in the Crowd
Dancing in the Kitchen
Euphoria
Weekends
Lost Without You
I Used to Sing
Castles
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