Brooke Combe was outstanding at Saint Luke's on Friday night, the first of 2 sold out shows in the gorgeous venue. Brooke's smile radiated warmth, her banter was good fun and her voice was exceptional. She is a super cool n soulful lass!
Combe's star is rising on the back of her outstanding single How Can I Tell You? (blog) that she released last year. It's lifted her and the follow up Tears Don't Lie is of similar quality.
In her mid-20's, Combe started to release her music independently via Modern Sky, following a spell with Island. It was Island's loss and Brooke's gain. She worked with James Skelley from The Coral to produce her 2025 album Dancing On The Edge Of The World and isn't letting up. Brooke has just signed to Fontana Records and is ready to go to the next level.
There is no doubt that How Can I Tell You? has won her more fans. It went kinda viral on Instagram when Brooke posted rehearsal clips of her singing it, then the northern soul inspired video took it even further.
Backed by a tight band encompassing guitar, bass, backing vocals and percussion, keyboard and drums, Combe and co wowed the packed Saint Luke's with a stunning upbeat set that lifted everyone in the room.
Combe looks and acts like a star. Super lithe, shades on her head, cool Levi's, dancing about the stage, shadow boxing, playing guitar, banging her tambourine, playing air drums and she has a smile that radiates warmth.
The set was split in 3, with the opening segment including; This Town as an early banger, A-Game was sublime and Black Is The New Gold was sultry.
Combe then had the confidence to send her band off stage, leaving just her and guitarist Danny Murphy to performing two new songs; Piece of Me and It's Not Over, both bode very well for her next album and the latter in particular will sound good when fleshed out with a full band (and strings?).
Tears Won't Lie sounds like it has been lifted from the Motown vaults, a lost Supremes/Diana Ross single. Persistent piano, Combe's strong voice and cool Motown beats for the bridge to the chorus. Three minute of soul pop brilliance.
.jpeg)
A powerful Dancing At The Edge of the World led to an encore that began with someone from the audience beginning to sing Yes Sir I Can Boogie. World Cup fever is starting and Combe and Murphy played a short stripped back version that was greatly appreciated.
Grabbing a Scotland flag from a fan in the front row, Combe knotted it round her to sing a fantastic rendition of her song The Last Time, followed by a crowd singing lesson for the backing parts of How Can I Tell You? Then the band and Brooke ripped into it, ending with Combe up on the barrier to the delight of the crowd.
Combe has the songs, the look, the voice, soul and she now has the right record label. Strap in for the ride.
