Lewis Capaldi is trying not to choke to death on confetti. One song into the first night of a gargantuan world tour and the confetti cannons have gone off, showering the audience at Leeds arena in small strips of white paper. “Cause I’m not ready,” he splutters, “to find out you know how to forget me.” It’s not the most dignified start but, then, Capaldi never did seem too concerned about that.
Capaldi is the UK music industry’s golden boy. A blend of charisma, candour and a vocal range similar to that of Adele led to a handful of Brit Awards, a Grammy nomination and sold-out arena tours. He shrugs off critics or else comes back at them with impish glee. After Noel Gallagher described his music as “wank”, Capaldi walked onto the Other Stage at Glastonbury wearing a parka and a T-shirt with the Oasis star’s face inside a heart symbol. He’s very hard to hate.
