By Alfie Dook
Last week, the people of Leeds, more specifically those local to the iconic and intimate Oporto venue, were graced with the presence of a potentially generational talent.
Ben Walker is a rising singer-songwriter from Scotland, known for his heartfelt lyrics and soulful, emotionally-charged vocals. Rooted in the folk and indie genres, Ben’s music resonates with fans of artists such as Lewis Capaldi, Sam Fender, and Dermot Kennedy. His ability to craft deeply personal songs has earned him a dedicated following, with performances often leaving audiences captivated by his raw, authentic storytelling.
After a sold-out headline show at St. Luke’s, in Glasgow, on Valentine’s Day, Ben Walker has since embarked on his first ever tour of England, with Yorkshire taking the honour of hosting the first show.
Opening the night was Yorkshire’s very own Simon Walker, whose powerful voice, creative songwriting, and warm personality, immediately captured the room. His well-curated set included a mix of original tracks, most notably a highly emotional unreleased song, dedicated to his daughter, titled In Your Dreams.
Even with just a 30-minute opening set, it’s clear there are big things in store for Simon Walker.
His set was tough to follow, but singer and guitarist, Adi Lee, rose to the challenge with a unique style shining throughout his performance. He played a variety of his most popular songs, with amusing stories about his life experiences, surrounding tracks like Bus Stop 425, and Psycho Lisa.
Adi got the crowd engaged, encouraging them to sing along, and you could see they clearly enjoyed his all-around entertaining performance, which even featured a switch from guitar to ukulele, much to the crowd’s delight.
With Simon and Adi’s performances complete, all attention turned to the main act of the night: Ben Walker.
It’s hard to put into words the talent Ben possesses, but it’s undeniable that he has an incredible future ahead of him.
For this leg of the tour, Ben performed an acoustic set with just his pianist, Callum Hart, creating a relaxed, intimate vibe, as they threw out the setlist and mutually decided on songs as the night went on.
Their performance was a perfect blend of Ben’s greatest hits, with the Leeds crowd reacting enthusiastically to each song, cheering as soon as they recognised the opening notes.
Highlights included some of his biggest singles, Just a Boy, Sixteen, and Ronseal. The beauty of each track was not only in the lyrics, but also in Ben’s incredible vocal power, which held the room in rapt attention.
Ben also treated fans to his newest single, Freedom of the Driveway, a deeply emotional song about the realisation that every moment is meant to pass, and the acceptance that it’s okay to let it go. I’ve found myself singing along to it constantly in the days following the show, and it’s easy to imagine thousands of voices harmonising to it, like the rest of Ben’s discography, at a much larger venue.
Before hearing about his UK tour, I hadn’t been familiar with Ben Walker, but after experiencing his live performance, it’s safe to say I’ve become a hardcore fan.
Ben Walker is someone I’ll be making sure to see live again, and I highly recommend you do the same.
Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Alfie Dook/ADRENALINE Magazine. All rights reserved.
Chloe Morris
Stunning, thank you so much! We had the best time in Leeds and can’t wait to come back soon x