On Saturday March 12 Rayon Nelson hosted the first ever Radical Lounge – an evening of live music performed by up and coming local talent together with an Open Mic spot.

Hosted at Goals Soccer Centre in Ipswich the evening started with a performance by Rayon Nelson and his band of his self-written song He Has Done and Free, which Rayon co-wrote with local singer Katie Woods.

Once the soulful songs had finished Rayon opened up the stage: Local rapper Karim was first to pick up the mic, performing a rap to a backing track and then rapping another of his own creations acapella.
The band was called back on stage to play some beats while the mic was passed around the room for several singers and rappers to do some improvisation.

Rayon then performed his latest song Work In Progress before Daniel Fisher took to the stage with one of his acoustic creations. After Rayon and his band had performed a few more of Rayon’s songs the stage was once again opened up to the audience where several singers and rappers performed their own songs and two young girls blew the audience away with their acapella cover of Kirk Franklin’s Imagine Me.

Rayon then performed a duet with local singer Renata Allen, local radio presenter and rapper Brother Touch rapped and DJ and creator of Don Wear UK, Carl Herbert.

Emmanuel Adeship then took to the stage performing first a rap acapella then a duet with Rayon singing while he rapped – by the end the pair sent the audience into frenzied applause.

With the huge amount of varied talent from Rayon Nelson and friends, the first Radical lounge was a huge success raising over £100 for national charity Youth Music. The night was full of soul, rock and hip-hop beats and songs all with a positive message, we are looking forward to the next event which will be just as full of entertainment and local talent. LH