George Ezra at Somerset House, gig review: Singer's brand of folk-pop is nothing new, but his voice is unique

Success comes from how Ezra manages to draw on his influences without appropriating them

George Ezra performs at the Somerset House Summer series, London (Ian West/PA Wire)

Above Somerset House, a tempest looms, and the threat of a torrential downpour lingers for the duration of George Ezra's slot.

It’s a noticeably short set, as Ezra only has the one album, but a bold version of Macy Gray's "I Try" suggests he could have covered a few more artists to bulk it out.

His particular brand of folk-pop is nothing new, but Ezra's voice is certainly unique, and he sings buoyant renditions of "Budapest" and "Listen To The Man" – the problem is that he’s been mis-marketed by a label keen to cache in on the Jake Bugg hype and push their artist as a similarly broody singer-songwriter.

Success comes from how Ezra manages to draw on his influences – Guthrie, Dylan, etc – without appropriating them. A John Wayne drawl and Johnny Cash bass-baritone belies his age and slender frame, and he injects a casual threat into "Leaving It Up To You".

George Ezra performs at the Somerset House Summer series (Ian West/PA Wire)

Closing on "Did You Hear The Rain?", with its dark, "Feeling Good" intro and opposing sentiment; his cries of "Lucifer’s Inside" and the raging, stormy instrumentation make for an atmospheric finish.