Live Report: RAYE is a vocal powerhouse at Longitude Festival

"I say it in interviews all the time, and you can check this, but Dublin always has the best crowds," 25-year-old London artist Raye tells the young audience at Longitude Festival.

The Ivor Novello-winning songwriter and powerhouse vocalist claims her first full tent actually took place at Longitude a couple of years back, so her emotional tie to the event provides the DNA for her loyalty - though anyone who's seen her perform knows that Raye leaves it all on every stage she ever visits. Whether there's five people or five thousand, you're bound to get every bit of a headliner performance.

She's ready to have fun during her 4pm slot, using her 45 minutes to mingle in dance bangers from when she was signed with Polydor Records (who withheld her debut album) and more jazz-infused, soul ballads from her newfound independent career. Her warmth on stage is palpable, mirrored by her phenomenal band - with a world class bassist (Liv), keyboardist and drummer by her side. The brass section and chorus of vocalists are glamorous in white dinner suits, despite the attire (Shein chic) worn by virtually every audience member.

Opening with 'Oscar Winning Tears' before thrashing out 'The Thrill Is Gone', her voice is every inch the pop star with a slice of jazz club energy about her. Raye's crowd interaction is also second to none, constantly telling them little stories between tracks and even asking them to vote on one number. They vote on the more rock-driven 'Environmental Anxiety', which suits the age range perfectly of the crowd. Asking them to create a mosh pit with a laugh, she belts: "Come on, kids, it's time to vote / Boris Johnson's sniffing coke / All the children are depressed / Not the future we had hoped."

'Ice Cream Man' and 'Flip a Switch' ("sometimes you just need to flip a switch on some prick") keep up the momentum, before 'Secret's - the dance radio smash that went nuts in Ireland. 'Worth It' leads into her 2018 Jax Jones smash collaboration 'You Don't Know Me', which the audience are with her for every note.

She ends her fun-filled set with 'Escapism', feat. 070 Shake, the viral TikTok hit that earned her newfound fame and gave her a Christmas No.1 in Ireland. Her positive attitude, vocal gifts and dedication to her crowd make us wonder why she isn't nabbing headliner sets. Having opened for SZA in the 3Arena a few weeks ago, her time will surely come to be selling out the big venues she deserves.

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