Ziggy Alberts is an Australian singer-songwriter and author who has established himself as one of Australia's leading independent artists. He took the stage at Exeter Phoenix and delivered a remarkable live performance that immersed the audience in his soulful music and heartfelt lyrics, read on to see how the evening unfolded.

His genuine grassroots story has lifted his artistry into universal acclaim, captivating audiences across the globe - a testament to his song writing ability and powerful live performance.

Proving he’s not a ‘one trick pony’, as well as a celebrated musician, Alberts is also the founder of his own independent label, Commonfolk Records, and book publishing house, Commonfolk Publishing, he has managed to craft what many musicians and authors dream of - the ability to tell a story on their own terms.

His sixth-studio album, DANCING IN THE DARK, is no exception, providing yet another example of how he showcases his artistic growth and shares his ever-evolving story with the world.

Opening the show was a wonderful musician called Nathan Ball, two minutes into his set, I had a feeling of deja vu, had I seen Nathan before? if so, where and when? I turned to my website and entered his name and it informed me that I covered his set at last year’s Great Estate Festival.

Nathan performed a great set, full of delicately created pieces that silenced the audience, allowing them to tune into Nathan’s world for the 30 minutes he was on stage. Nathan has been touring with Ziggy for the past few years and it was great to see him in Exeter, warming up the room for his good friend.

Ziggy’s musical style can be described as a captivating blend of folk, acoustic, and indie-pop which is only accentuated by his warm and soulful vocals, skilful guitar playing, and introspective songwriting. He effortlessly creates a sonic landscape that transports listeners to a place of introspection and emotional resonance. His music truly embodies a sense of authenticity and vulnerability, allowing his audience to relate to the stories he weaves through his lyrics.

During the show, Ziggy's on-stage performance was nothing short of captivating. With a genuine and humble demeanour, he created an intimate atmosphere that drew the audience in from the first chord. His heartfelt delivery and genuine connection with the crowd made each song feel personal and meaningful. From tender and introspective moments to foot-stomping anthems, his stage presence commanded attention and evoked a range of emotions from the capacity audience.

With tracks selected from his six album back catalogue, including ‘The Sun & The Sea’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Laps Around the Sun’ and a stunning A Capella version of ‘Dancing in the Dark’, he produced a captivating set which pleased the capacity audience no end.

In Ziggy’s presence, I felt a feeling of calm, I tuned into his music and it transported me to another place, I’m sure that the rest of the room were of the same feeling and come the end, I was thankful for the time he spent on stage, welcoming the room into his space.

I caught up with Ziggy after his show, thanked him for coming to Exeter and wished him every success for the future. He said that he was off to London to sort out an American working visa ahead of his trip there, I wished him luck….

With over 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, global show sizes on the continuous rise and praise from the likes of Billboard Magazine, American Songwriter, Ear Milk and Clash UK, there is no doubt this will be Ziggy Alberts’ year. In 2022, Ziggy was awarded with an APRA for his track ‘Letting Go’. He has also earned ARIA Platinum certifications for ‘Laps Around The Sun’ (Double Platinum), ‘Gone’, ‘Runaway’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Love Me Now’, ‘Stronger’ and ‘Four Feet in the Forest’ (EP) plus, Gold certifications for his Laps Around The Sun album and six tracks in his catalogue.

All Photography © musomuso