One for the Lovers
Guests trickle in from 8:30 p.m. and have around forty-five minutes to an hour until the show begins. As the room fills, waiters elegantly glide between the restaurant, bar area and tables, tucking their trays neatly behind their backs to manoeuvre the tight space. At 9:30 p.m., the lights dim a little lower and Tony Momrelle parts the curtains, sauntering onto the stage and raising a hand to the room, writes Frankie Jenner.
After more than sixteen years as lead vocalist with British acid-jazz band Incognito, Momrelle is now making his case as a solo artist. Dubbed by The Guardian as “the 21st-century Stevie Wonder”, his sound is infused with eighties-inspired synths, jazzy keys, classic piano and soaring soul vocals. The show is a tribute to his musical roots, paying homage to legends such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and John Lennon. Momrelle teased unreleased tracks alongside songs from his albums ‘Keep Pushing’ (2016) and ‘Best Is Yet To Come’ (2019) – it’s definitely one for the lovers.
Momrelle is accompanied by a 5-piece band: Megan Khan on voice, Emiliano Pari on keys and voice, Julian Crampton on bass and Alessio Wildes Barelli on drums. Tightly packed onto the small stage, Momrelle is still conscious to give space to each musician, offering up a period of the set for a round of solos. This is the real ignition point of the night, as the audience fully locks in to the energetic exchange playing out on the stage. As Barelli takes it away on drums, Pari can’t help but stand up and shake his head in disbelief – a true sign of respect.
Following a major transformation, Upstairs at Ronnie’s officially opened its newly reimagined first-floor space in February. Sitting above the main club, it can seat 140 people yet retains an incredibly intimate, cabaret-style atmosphere. Tables are scattered underneath an impressive vaulted ceiling, dressed in pleated Zimbabwean textiles. The club’s signature sewn table lamps gently illuminate a sea of gleaming circular tabletops. Smaller tables are dotted in front of the stage, while booths are set back against the walls, making space for larger groups.
Tickets range from around £30 to £50, across three tiers: Stage View, Side View (restricted) and Bar View (restricted). If you want to see the action, it’s worth splashing out on the Stage View tickets, otherwise you might spend most of the night craning your neck! The ticket price goes some way to explaining the demographic – it’s largely an older crowd that exposes itself to some committed but uncoordinated side steps and hip swings towards the end of the show, as Momrelle invites everyone up and onto their feet.
Upstairs at Ronnie’s currently hosts two main shows every evening: Late Late Shows Thursday–Saturday (and some Tuesdays) that run through to 3 a.m., a vocal jazz jam every Wednesday, plus Sunday afternoon shows. Momrelle will be back at Upstairs At Ronnie’s on Saturday 29 August for two evening shows. In the meantime, the venue’s programme boasts everything from jazz to soul, R&B, gospel, hip hop and classical music.
Booking and full details: https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/find-a-show/
