Turtle Tempo presents refreshingly intimate night of music on Haringey bus

On a warmly lit bus tucked into a Haringey street, a string of upcoming artists took to the stage last month with intimate acoustic sets showcasing new music at its very best.

Performing to a sold-out audience packed into the seats of double-decker bus Ludo’s, the artists delivered unparalleled electricity to the unique venue, which swelled with refreshingly homely energy.

The deliciously quirky night of music was opened by Birmingham-born artist Charlie Bennett, who set the night off on a gentle tone with a series of love songs backed by acoustic guitar.

After opening with first song Tell Me Something, which became one of Bennett’s most well-known tunes through TikTok, the singer followed with an intimate-feeling, acoustic rendition of Duvet Days, the title song from his first EP.

Named after the track’s recording process, which saw Bennett use the duvet and bedding in his student flat as sound proofing, the pared-back love song rested calmly on a bed of gently strummed chords, layered by controlled vocals injected with a layer of vulnerability.

The third tune, Baby Blue Ford, exhibited a delightfully youthful, hopeful tone, before Bennett followed with another of his most popular tracks. Named Is This Love, the song was filled with swells of comfort, while several impassioned fans in the audience sung along under their breath.

A new song, which was due to be released at midnight on the night of the gig, closed Bennett’s set.

Next up was London-based singer-songwriter Leona Rue, whose set was also made up of soft, acoustic love songs.

From the first song of her set, Rue brought an air of calm over the bus. Moments of skilfully executed guitar were embedded amongst lilting vocals and considered lyrics which carried a remarkable storytelling quality.

The singer’s third song, Annabelle, picked up the pace of the set and rang with a quality of angst, before Rue brought her set home with a reflective, gentle tune carried by warm backing.

Next in the lineup was Alex Francis, who delivered a strikingly powerful vocal performance.

Based in London, the artist showcased a raspy, emotion-filled voice, which was laced with an enticing layer of vulnerability as he moved through a soul-stirring set of tunes.

Following his first song, named Desire, the second song brought an element of tenderness to the stage, with dynamically guided vocals which opened into louder, impassioned cries before being followed by a well-executed set of heartfelt yet catchy songs.

Last to play was George Young, known for his performances as a guitarist in rising London band Hey Bailey.

Supported by a strong stage presence, Young’s set grew from warm, acoustic-backed ballads to a series of energetic tunes that had the audience dancing.

With a classic, transportive sound that feels extracted from the early 2000s, Young’s music closed the night on a refreshing, joy-filled note that, like the rest of the night, demonstrated the soothing power of music.

Haringey venue Ludo’s will continue to be taken over by music during May, with lineups regularly arranged by London promoter Turtle Tempo for music lovers seeking a comforting, uniquely community-building space.

For more information on upcoming events, check out Turtle Tempo’s Instagram page.

Photography by Emma Last.