Nick Cope isn’t your average children’s performer. Sure, his audience may be wearing wellies more for puddle-jumping than festival fashion, but at Leicester Square Theatre, he delivered a show that wouldn’t be out of place in a Glastonbury afternoon slot… if Glasto replaced beer tents with juice and raisins and mosh pits with soft play vibes.
The former Candyskins frontman has carved out a niche as the godfather of indie-kid anthems that form the basis of his Cbeebies series the Nick Cope Popcast.
Kids love the catchy songs and parents love that it’s a form of children’s entertainment that’s warm, funny and most importantly not annoying.
I’ve lost my bobble hat brings all that and more to the stage with visuals that had toddlers mesmerised and parents quietly impressed. It’s rare to see a room of young children this captivated by anything that doesn’t involve YouTube or snacks.
But what really makes a Nick Cope gig soar isn’t just the music. Cope has razor-sharp dad jokes and an uncanny ability to read a restless crowd of sugar-fuelled mini-humans which means he can work the room like a seasoned stand-up. He had the kids howling, the parents chuckling and somehow managed to keep everyone locked in from start to finish.
Vocally, it’s a sing along free-for-all. At times, it was genuinely hard to tell whether it was the kids or their grown-ups singing the lyrics louder – testament to Cope’s cross-generational pull. It would be difficult to tell his live renditions apart from his TV recordings, such is the quality of overall performance. His songs may be built for children, but the craft, charm and occasional existential zing mean they hit everyone just right.
I’ve lost my bobble hat delivers all of the best elements of the Popcast and more while giving everyone surprisingly raucous reminder that great live music can still be innocent, silly and completely brilliant.