When Jake Bugg strides onto the stage of The Olympia, you know he means business. At the tender age of 20, he already has two albums worth of material, and damn it if he’s not going to get through nearly all of it.
The capacity crowd is in good voice; ‘Storm Passes Away’ prompts a mass singalong. One of Bugg’s greatest strengths is his ability to connect through his lyrics; sharp, witty and unapologetic, they reach a level of social commentary that belies his years. On stage, though, connecting with the fans seems the last thing on his mind. He’s six songs through before he speaks at all, to introduce ‘Me and You’. His reclusiveness is about to be his downfall.
Around the middle of the set, Bugg’s three-piece band leaves the stage and he perches on a stool for a few acoustic numbers. At approximately the same time, 800 miles away, John O’Shea pokes out his foot. The speed with which the audience abandons the performance for the action in Gelsenkirchen speaks volumes. ‘Looking Down The Avenue’ is a beautiful piece of songwriting, but with lads chanting “Olé Olé”, its power is somewhat diminished.
Thankfully, the rest of the band is soon back, and the set moves closer to the celebratory mood of the crowd. Bugg is a surprisingly adept guitarist, and the higher tempo numbers like ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’ and closer ‘Lightning Bolt’ go down a treat.
Dylan for the Snapchat generation, Bugg’s songwriting is enough to make him a star. The sterility of the performance, though, leaves one wondering what stratospheric heights he could reach if he just opens up a little.

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