Ruby Roberts’ enchanting show at Oslo, Hackney

Words by Iga Diemko

I got to attend Ruby Roberts’ show at Oslo in Hackney this Thursday, and right from the start I knew I was in for a treat. Despite it being a small venue, the energy was electric and the attendees were pumped up.

The first support act, Isabella, kicked off the night with her catchy beats. People were singing along before she had even prompted them to, enamoured by her music. Panicbaby came on next, her ethereal songs a stark departure from Isabella’s energetic beats. She resembled a siren, hypnotising the whole crowd with her delicate voice. After her set finished, you could feel the anticipation building in the room. The crowd was buzzing on the floor, while a disco ball bathed them in splashes of light. Fairy lights were carefully draped onstage, and the crowd sang along loudly to the preshow playlist, as if knowing Ruby was about to come on. 

Photos by Iga Diemko

Suddenly, her band came out, playing the opening notes to “Away with the fairies”. To the cheers of the crowd, Ruby emerged, resembling a fairy herself with the way she moved. From the moment she started singing, you could tell she felt at home on the stage. The audience sang along to every word, and this familiarity with the lyrics continued throughout the rest of the set. Ruby was not afraid to interact with us, confidence oozing off of her. Watching her perform, I couldn’t help but think she was born for this, and her incredible voice only exacerbated that thought. This was the last stop of the tour, so Ruby had asked us to celebrate together. It is safe to say the audience delivered. While weaving through the crowd, I would be hard-pressed to find a single person not dancing or singing along. Her band were just the same, all clearly enjoying the music, dancing and smiling throughout the night.

As the set drew to a close, Ruby raffled off a small teddy bear. We had all gotten raffle tickets on entry, and as this was the last bear Ruby had left, it made the draw even more special. We had reached the last few songs, and suddenly bubbles appeared around Ruby. These were made by fans who had brought small bubble machines, and they fit perfectly with the magical atmosphere of the show. The show closer was “Trampoline”, and fans screamed the chorus lyrics back at Ruby. They call her the somersault queen, an alias she fully embraces – as proven by the fact that you could get it stamped onto your hand at the merch booth. Finally, the song ended. Ruby thanked us and disappeared backstage. Only remnants of the bubbles on the stage hinted at what had just happened, and I was left both impressed and charmed by the incredible performance.

Photos by Iga Diemko