Shropshire Star

V Festival 2017: Stormzy - review

He stormed onto the British music stage and, at V Festival, Stormzy showed why.

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Stormzy

The Grime artist who put his genre well and truly on the music map was like a magnet as his set began with a bang.

Festival goers flocked to the main stage as if the event for them was just beginning.

Suddenly V-fest was jumping.

Stormzy

At the age of just 23 Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, is still, beneath all the music world hype - he's the boy from Croydon and proud of it.

He asked the audience who were Grime fans and, when a third put their hands up, he asked them to help him convert the rest.

They did him proud with frenetic dancing and their knowledge of the words that were impossibly fast!

He showcased his album, Gang Signs and Prayer that has been shortlisted for a Mercury Prize. Many previous winners have faded into obscurity after the shortlisting but that's not going to happen to Stormzy.

Stormzy

He has far too much stage presence...Even in a grey hoodie...And has far too many fans.

His fans were appreciative of every number and everyone in the crowd appreciated the chance to burn off any excess energy they might have.

Then the unmistakable bars of Shape of You began.

Earlier this year Ed Sheeran delighted the Brit Awards viewers by bringing Stormzy on stage for the remix version on his number one.

Stormzy

The favour was not returned at V, but the crowd loved in no less.

However it was the next track, Big for your Boots, that really brought the house down.

At the moment Stormzy is certainly not to big forhis boots. Despite some choice language his has an engaging humility. I hope he stays that way.