George Ezra, Brixton Academy

If you've been in the UK this summer and in possession of a functioning pair of ears, you can't have failed to hear the instantly-endearing strains of George Ezra's 'Budapest', its graceful yoo-oou's floating over shuffling guitars, its chorus the kind of implacably catchy troubadour jingle we just can't help but fall in love with every summer.
Around the 6^th or 7^th hearing, you might have begun to wonder: do we really need another baby-faced British singer-songwriter, dubiously blessed as we already are by the existence of Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg? The truth, however, is that with the release of Wanted on Voyage, his debut release on Columbia this summer, Ezra proves himself to be not only more akin to the new breed of neo-soul crooners like Sam Smith and John Newman - with a voice that roves between lofty cooing and hoarse, blues-y rumbling - but also a man in possession of a range and a vocal maturity that marks him out as more than just fodder for T-Mobile's next TV ad.
Whilst the songs present on Wanted on Voyage are indeed catchy almost to a fault, there is something charming and believably authentic about his soulful baritone, complimented by snatches of a trembling but measured falsetto. The powerful a capella introduction to 'Did You Hear The Rain' is the perfect example, showcasing Ezra's vocal strength and paving the way for arguably the album's best track.
George Ezra's rise to super-stardom is well and truly underway, but next February's show could one of your last chances to catch him before he rigours of fame take something away from his charming blend of raw, youthful soul and a folk sound mature beyond his 21 years.