With a capacity just shy of 2,000, Strathmore isn’t a small venue. But in her recent appearance there, British blue-eyed soul singer Joss Stone made it feel intimate, in an evening filled with great songs, lots of warmth, and plenty of good vibes.
Growing up in Kent, England, Stone was influenced by the classic R&B of Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield. She burst onto the music while she was still in her teens, releasing her debut, The Soul Sessions, when she was just 16. The album received a Grammy nomination, as did its single “You Had Me,” and Joss herself was nominated for Best New Artist. In the two decades since, she’s continued to achieve critical acclaim and commercial success.
Though she remains grounded in classic soul music, Stone’s set went far beyond that in her performance at Strathmore Music Center on Oct. 9. She didn’t know about much about country music, she said, until she saw the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou. “I got obsessed with Alison Krauss,” she said, before singing “Down to the River to Pray.” She’s since moved to Tennessee, where all of her children have been born; her youngest even has a Southern accent. The set also delved into gospel with “Walk with Me” and “I Had a Dream.” Of the latter, she said, “My mom used to walk along the pier smoking spliff and singing this song,” despite not being much of a singer. She “believed it could change the world,” and she sang Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.”
Watch Joss Stone perform “I Had a Dream” live for Live 8 on YouTube:
While Joss started her career singing covers, and she still does plenty of them, she has become a fine writer. “Pillow Talk” kicked off the set. Of “Understand,” she said, “Don’t you think it’s adorable when your partner thinks everyone wants to shag you?” I can’t say I’ve ever had that problem, possibly because I have autism and still sleep with a stuffed animal. Joss also sang “No Thank You.” Introducing “Purgatory,” she asked, “What if heaven is here?” and said, “What we should really focus on is not giving a fuck what anyone else thinks.”
Still, the covers were a major part and highlight of the show. She told the audience how much she loves Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E” and asked, “Shall we sing it?” Well, it would’ve been a little awkward if she’d gone through the setup and then she didn’t. Before singing James Bay’s “Let It Go,” she said, “Sometimes we need to hear a sad song so we don’t feel so alone.” She also compared it to talking to her gran, and in a sweet moment, gave her tea to a man in the audience. When she performed “Super Duper Love,” she left the stage, making her way through the audience; at one point, she was just a few feet away from me. (She didn’t appear phased by the sight of me bopping with my stuffie. She’s a real pro.) Joss also did “Midnight Train to Georgia,” then finished the set with a medley of “Say A Little Prayer” and “I Put on Spell on You.”
Early in her career, Stone was mentored by the singer Betty Wright. For her encore, she sang “Right or Wrong,” which Wright wrote for her when she was 14.
For this tour, Stone turned back the clock to her early career, with a setup of just two instrumentalists and three harmony singers. This spare setup allowed for the beauty of her powerhouse vocals to shine. The format worked wonderfully fell, in no small part because Joss, in addition to being a fantastic singer, has a delightful stage presence. As eclectic as my musical taste, I don’t listen a lot to soul or R&B, but Joss does it so very, very well, and her material is incredibly wide-ranging. If you’re thinking of going to see her, don’t hesistate — you’ll have a great time. I know everyone at the Strathmore went home with a little more joy in their hearts.
Here are some photos of Joss Stone performing live at Strathmore Music Center on Oct. 9, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
