Featured image and gallery: Jack Oliver
After eight packed out performances across Europe Kaytranada arrives at Co-Op Live for his largest show on the European leg of his ‘Timeless Tour’. The 23,000 capacity venue is filled with excited fans who eagerly anticipate the start of the show after energetic performances from Pomo, Lou Phelps and Sango.
As the clock nears ten the words “Kaytranada, classic, timeless” echo and are met with thunderous cheers and a breathtaking display of pyrotechnics that reveal a silhouette of Kaytranada who is backlit by stunning visuals that show a blue mushroom cloud exploding into his name written in the stars.
The energy erupts as the unmistakable voice of PinkPantheress floats across the speakers with ‘Snap My Finger,’ a standout from Timeless. Kaytranada joins in on the fun as he dances with his infectious energy around the stage singing into a live camera feed projected on towering screens. Even those in the farthest corners of the venue felt close to the action.
As the set progresses, more well known crowd-favourite hits from across his career, which includes a unreleased remix of Beyoncé’s song ‘Cuff It’ and Timeless single ‘drip sweat’, play to the lively crowd who are hit by an array of strobe lights that spread across the standing area.
At the midpoint of the show darkness came down on the arena as it is just lit by the golden words “Kaytranada, Timeless” that appear behind him on the stage as Kaytranada encourages the crowd to sing along before the voice of Chance The Rapper comes across the speakers and tells the crowd to “start dancing.” Thedrop of the song hits and the venue is filled with sparks and vibrant blue lights that project onto the euphoric crowd.
The shows peak comes in the last quarter of the show when the Timeless breakout hit ‘Witchy’ is played to a crowd that raises their hands in the air in excitement as fans sing along to every word of Childish Gambino’s voice in unison whilst Kaytranada struts up and down the decks clapping his hands to the beat as a spotlight projects onto him.
As the night winds down, the pace softens. A glowing moon rises onto the screen, casting a serene hue over the crowd. Fans raise their phone lights, creating a glittering canopy as the song ‘Intimidated ft H.E.R’ plays, offering a dreamy contrast to the earlier intensity.
The night closes with ‘BE YOUR GIRL’ by Teedra Moses, a track that’s become a signature moment in his live sets. Kaytranada raises his glass to the crowd to thank them for attending as white confetti rains upon the audience.
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