Sean Webster and Band at the Tuesday Night Music Club ,Coulsdon

Review and Images by Ken Jackson

Like many live music lovers, I have a few favourite artists—those whose music resonates deeply, whether through the raw emotional power of their sound or the lyrics that feel personally meaningful. Sean Webster is one of those rare artists for me.

Although born in the UK, Sean now calls the Netherlands home, and his UK tours are limited to once a year. Still, I’ve been fortunate enough to catch him at least once on each of those tours, at various venues over the years. Every performance has left a mark—sometimes for unexpected reasons. I’ll never forget the time he climbed onto a table mid-solo, only for it to collapse beneath him, breaking his finger. Just days later, he played The Tuesday Night Music Club with that finger in a splint. Another year, he battled through a chest and throat infection onstage—later diagnosed as pneumonia after he returned to the Netherlands. It was months before he was back to full strength.

Last night, however, there were no such dramas—just musical fire. Sean and his incredible band, featuring Axel Zwinselman on keys, Florris Poesse on bass, and Rob van der Linde on drums, delivered a powerful, soulful performance. The setlist balanced old favourites with standout tracks from Sean’s new album Summer Has Gone, a beautifully crafted blend of blues, soul, and ballads. I loved every moment.

The first set opened with a crowd-pleasing classic, “You Got to Know,” before moving swiftly into some stunning new material. A haunting rendition of “I Put a Spell on You” was a definite highlight, and as the set closed, I found myself just barely resisting the urge to give a one-man standing ovation. In hindsight, I should’ve gone for it—the roar of applause suggested I wouldn’t have been standing alone for long.

During the intermission, I made a beeline for the merch table to pick up Summer Has Gone, which already felt like the perfect follow-up to Three Nights Live—an album I’ve played endlessly over the past couple of years.

The second set continued in the same rich vein: heartfelt lyrics, masterful musicianship, and a mixture of familiar tunes and new tracks that are destined to become favourites. After earning their first standing ovation of the night, Sean paid tribute to the late, great Matt Long. With Matt’s loved ones, Fiona and Sam, present in the audience, the atmosphere turned deeply emotional. Sean Webster dedicated and delivered a breath taking version of “I’d Rather Go Blind”—unlike anything I’ve heard before. One final song closed the night, and with it, the audience was left both moved and spent.

There’s something incredibly cathartic about a Sean Webster show. It’s not just the music—it’s the emotion, the honesty, and the sense that you’re witnessing something genuine and profoundly human. Every time I see him, I’m reminded why live music matters so much.

Hats off to our host Richard Dunning , Ross Davey and Martin Davey doing an outstanding job on the sound desk ,the incredible bar staff and my fellow audience members for their enthusiasm in supporting live music and live music venues througout the country .