Laura Marling @ Academy 2

Some gigs can really be full of surprises, and this secret show for owners of Laura's deluxe _Songbox_ edition of the album was one of the most surprising. Firstly, did you know Gary Numan was still touring? And that with 30mins before doors opening, a thousand people would already be queuing to see him? Still, avoiding the balding, middle aged new-wave veterans, I took my place in the queue of 6 jaded hipsters, looking mockingly at the OTT white rapfans also waiting outside the academy. It seemed like it would be a very unusual night. Inside the surprises continued- my favourite venue had been filled with temporary seats for tonights show, giving it a feeling (as all the artists mentioned) of a school assembly. On my seat was even bigger shock:Yes, someone had left an apple core, a banana and a press release on my seat. Slightly perturbed by this I discarded the fruit, but decided to keep the demo CD that had been left, figuring either this may be my chance to discover the next big thing _OR_ to ruin the chances of some band who think leaving moldy fruit is appropriate.Finally the show moved on from this bizarre start to the first support band, _Planet Earth_. Both of the opening acts (them and _Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit) had a celtic folk rock feel about them, relying heavily on violins and flutes to draw their sound, although the latter added a hillbilly feel with some striking resonator guitar. Perfectly suited to opening for Marling, both are also worth checking out._Planet Earth__Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit_At around ten Marling made her way onto the stage, seeming almost terrified by the occasion, clad in an enormous Che Guevara hoodie she cut a waif like, androgynous figure. She even delegated inter-song conversation to drummer Marcus, and refused the traditional encore, instead just lengthening the set to avoid "embarrassment". Yet as soon as the music started her timidness seemed to ebb away - almost trance like she stormed through her entire album with unflinching precision, yet her natural delicacy shone through beneath. At 18 it is hardly surprising she appears so mouse-like, some of this crowd were probably 3 times her age, but it also serves as a testament to her talent. Any one can sing folk songs of uncertainty and insecurity, but not everyone can live them - one look at Marling's stage presence shows how heartfelt her songs are, and while never destined for the big stage, at such an intimate setting this emotional honesty is both refreshing and impressive. This night may have held many strange sights, but the strangest, and most appealing, was that of an emotional chanteuse.EDIT: link to "photos":http://flickr.com/photos/11879476@N02/sets/72157604075316696/