With an aim of bringing live music back to the UK's smaller towns and venues, Nottingham indie artist Jake Bugg brought his 'Your Town Tour' to Peterborough on Thursday.

A commendable goal, especially considering that grassroots music spaces across the country are dwindling due to being under threat of closure. 

Keen to ensure The Cresset had a packed audience right from the off, rather than having an opening act with him at The Cresset, Bugg played two sets. 

The crowd spanning teenagers, twenty-somethings and people in their fifties, he started with a 30-minute acoustic set which felt uniquely intimate and authentic.

Just Jake, a guitar and a mic... the stripped-back set up allowed him to really showcase his vocal range and musicianship.  

Easing the audience in, he opened with the 2014 throwback ‘Strange Creatures’ and went on to play songs from his earlier albums and EPs such as ‘Slide’ from his self-titled debut album.

‘Someone Told Me’ and ‘Simple as this’ also proved to be highlights.

After a 20-minute break, Bugg returned with a full live band and quickly kicked the main set of the night into life with ‘Trouble Town’ and ‘Slumville Sunrise’.

Expectedly, with the addition of live drums and electric guitar, his second slot resulted in far more energy, including mass singalongs, from those in the room.

He briefly brought the tempo down mid-set with ‘Broken’, before amping things back up for a three-song finale of fan favourites.

‘Lighting Bolt’ had everyone singing along and doing their best Notts accent, before ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’ and closing with 2021 banger ‘All I Need’.

It was a great end to a night full of good vibes. It’s worth noting that there was no trouble at all – just a room full of music fans of all ages glad to see someone who hasn’t been too active in the last few years. A much welcome return from an indie hero.