FANS were holding back their emotions as James Bay performed to a packed Oasis on Friday night.

The 25-year-old had young singer/songwriter Samm Henshaw and Elle King to warm the crowd into a calm chaos as they were baying for the arrival of the main act.

The Hitchin-born singer entered a minimalistic stage set-up, which was a throwback to the soul scene of America, in his trademark hat and skinny jeans, which looked like they would be a tight fit for someone half his years.

There is something about Bay’s style, an old soul in a young man’s body, that attracts a range of admirers young and old.

And they were all squeezed into the hall that is usually home to the badminton courts.

Bay made light of the fact that he was performing in a swimming pool as he plunged straight into an eclectic range of songs from his album Chaos And Calm.

The young singer, guitar in hand, with a band to support him didn’t let the poor acoustics affect his performance as his smooth voice filled the hall and he had to compete with a crowd who were singing along with every lyric.

However, Bay knew which song everyone was waiting for and he held it back until the end to bow out the evening with a real bang.

After leaving the stage, he returned with a seven-minute instrumental to ensure the crowd was at fever pitch before breaking into his platinum-selling Hold Back The River and he held the gaze of everyone in the room.

Fans found it difficult to let it go as they made their way home from the venue having thoroughly enjoyed their evening show in evening clothes.

Matthew Edwards