Mitch James – Live @ Homegrown 2023

The Bright Blue Skies opened to the passionate vocals of young singer-songwriter Mitch James, his soulful-pop blended vocals a perfect match for the eager crowd of mostly millennials & Gen Z’ers revelling in the Wellington warmth of Homegrown.

Words and photos by Wal Reid.

Racing through his set of well-known single hits from his eponymous debut album Mitch James, the crowd was in a frenzy as he played Sunday Morning, the catchy Bright Blue Skies & his hit single 21 while referencing the “sunny neighbours” Dunedin from where the song was inspired.

Giving a shout-out to the Warriors League team, “This year is our year, brother” he danced and playfully goaded the crowd like a true pro, at times reminding me of that Entertainer Robbie Williams, he definitely has a bright future with songs and persona to boot, his music the perfect vehicle for the bigger stage.

James’s mash-ups of Brittany and Snoop resonated with the crowd while a sing-along ensued with Lucid, with the singer apologising to his parents in the crowd for his flirting with drugs, it was a strong statement as James continued to woo the captive audience.

Admitting he’d been waiting two long years to play Homegrown; it looks like the wait has paid off handsomely. The accolades from overseas, catchy bangers and his impressive stage presence could be signals Mitch James could be New Zealand’s next big Pop export, in fact, I’d be willing to put money on it.