Live Review: Craig David – 8th July 2025 – Kew The Music, Kew Gardens, London, UK

On a balmy evening in southwest London, Born To Do It hitmaker Craig David turned the historic tranquility of Kew Gardens into a euphoric open-air discotheque – and made it look effortless. As part of the Kew the Music summer concert series, his TS5 set delivered a genre-blurring, feel-good celebration that proved both a nod to his Garage and RnB roots and a showcase of his ongoing musical relevance – as well as reminding the crowd of punters (most of us being repeatedly bitten by small mosquitos) of his incredible, flawless vocals.

For the uninitiated, TS5 isn’t your average live show. It’s Craig David in full command – moving swiftly between a DJ deck and singing, MCing, remixing, and hosting with a natural charm and engagement with his fans. Born out of house parties in his Miami apartment (aptly named Tower Suite 5), TS5 has evolved into an international touring experience, and at Kew, it felt tailor-made for the vibrant yet laid-back day-gig crowd that laid out comfortably on picnic blankets at the back or danced along in the reserved first half of the grounds with flutes of Prosecco in hand.

When Craig took to the stage, dressed in a crisp white tee and white jacket and oozing his signature confidence, the shift in energy was instant and infectious. This wasn’t just a singer performing hits; this was a full-blown party and David was the host, DJ, and headliner rolled into one.

The set was a smart, seamless blend of his most beloved tracks and anthems that defined a generation. Fill Me In was met with a wave of nostalgic screams, while 7 Days prompted a mass singalong nice and early in the set and amongst karaoke style covers of numbers of Whitney Houston’s Its Not Right, But Its Ok and Flowers by Sweet Female Attitude being added to the mix. His remixes and blends were sharp and modern, interspersed with tracks from contemporary artists and pulsing house beats that had the crowd on their feet from start to end.

With classic hits like Re-Rewind, David tapped into a rich vein of 2000s nostalgia, while Heartline was delivered with some of the most pristine vocals of the night.

Throughout the set, David’s vocals remain on form – soulful, smooth, and shockingly unchanged after two decades in the game. Whether singing acapella or riding a garage beat, his control and tone remain immaculate. It’s a reminder that behind the party vibes is a monumental vocal talent, often underrated these days.

The setting of Kew Gardens added a calming magic to the night. There was something surreal and beautiful about watching a performance out in the sunshine and in a setting that was not overwhelmed by too many people – you could still set about to one of the many food stands, cocktail pop-ups or sweet set-ups that were dotted around the grounds, and the walk out of the park through some of the most spectacular botanical gardens in the world was a gorgeous touch to the evening.

Craig David’s TS5 at Kew the Music delivered summer charm in its purest form. Few artists can bridge generations and genres like Craig David. And under the sunset (and frequent planes making their way in and out of the nearby Heathrow) at Kew Gardens, he proved he’s still in a league of his own. What sets TS5 apart is its house-party style intimacy. It doesn’t feel like a pop concert – it feels like the best house party you’ve ever been to, hosted by a buddy who just happens to be one of the UK’s most gifted and natural performers.

Brendon Veevers

::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.