Fred Gibson, aka Fred again.. or more simply referred to as Fred, has become a well-known name in the dance music scene over the last year. He’s sold out events across the globe – including Denver’s Mission Ballroom.
The London-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer has taken the electronic dance music scene by storm, creating a vibrant range of music you can both party or cry along with.
Most notably, he debuted at Boiler Room in London – a rite of passage for many electronic artists. The recorded set, released July 22, spread like wildfire online, accumulating more than 6.7 million views in less than three months.
Watch the hour and eleven-minute set loaded with several unreleased tracks below.
Fred’s seventh stop on his mostly sold-out North American fall tour was held at Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday, October 2, 2022.
The built-to-suit venue was packed with fans prior to music commencing.
Most songs Fred played Sunday were from his breakout album, Actual Life (April 14 – December 17 2020) released in April 2021. His unique style, dubbed “Actual Life,” takes a documentary-style approach to audio sampling. He uses clips from voicemails, candid videos, and more from friends and strangers alike to create a sound that’s uplifting and relatable.
Fred’s set opened with the hit track “Kyle (i found you)” as he warmed up to the sold-out crowd.
Behind him, LED screens played candid video clips – some of which served as the source of the samples which made Actual Life (April 14 – December 17 2020) such a success.
The set progressed into other tracks from the album, including “Dermot (see yourself in my eyes)” and “Julia (deep diving).”
The vibe of the set then shifted to more of a party feel with uptempo beats from “Turn On The Lights again..” featuring Swedish House Mafia and Future, as well as “Jungle,” both tracks that made the Boiler Room set.
Fred kept hitting high notes throughout the set, especially to the song “Lights Out,” released earlier this year.
Then, the vibe shifted again. He asked the crowd to be as quiet as he began playing the piano to the slower, emotional ballad “Me (heavy).”
“Do you feel like talkin’?” Fred sang to the crowd. “I feel like bein’ open. I feel my thoughts run around each evening. But I’m glad I’m feelin.’”
“I’m so tired of being strong. I found you exploding. I found you beautiful. I don’t know a thing that could feel more heavy. Babe, I’m ready,” the cathartic ballad ends.
After this tear-jerker, Fred shifted the energy once again with the upbeat, positive single “Danielle (smile on my face)” from his upcoming album. Next played a video clip of spoken word poetry, “Explaining My Depression to My Mother,” by Sabrina Benaim, which was sampled for the track “Sabrina (i am a party).”
The depth of emotions continued as Fred asked the crowd to sing the hook to the song “Angie (I’ve been lost). “I’ve been lost, I’ve been lost, I’ve been lost, for a while,” the crowd roared. Then, the set transitioned into the opening sample of the hit “Marea (we lost dancing).”
The song samples a voicemail clip The Blessed Madonna left for Fred. “If I can live through this next six months, day by day, if I can live through this – what comes next will be marvelous.”
The track excellently encapsulates how many electronic music fans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, when live music events were shuttered and going out dancing became just a memory for a while.
Finally, Fred ended his set on a high note with “Billie (loving arms).”
Overall it was an emotional ride, different from the Boiler Room set but perfect in its own way. Much of Fred’s music has served as a cathartic outlet for electronic music fans both in the United States and abroad.
Fred recently shared on his Instagram story that he’s always wanted to play at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.
Perhaps that’s where we’ll see him in the Denver area next.
Until then, his newest album, Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) is scheduled to release on October 28, 2022. Listen to the most recently released single, “Kammy (like i do)” from the album here: