Matty Healy performed a surprise acoustic set at the Sunday For Sammy benefit in Newcastle yesterday (16th February), bringing out Lewis Capaldi as a special guest.
The 1975 frontman’s segment was billed as “Matty Healy & Friends” — but the 5,000-strong crowd at the Utilita Arena had no idea one of those friends would be the chart-topping Scottish singer.
Introducing Capaldi as “rather shy and bashful,” Healy asked the audience to give him a “calm and controlled” welcome. Capaldi walked on to a huge ovation and performed his number one hit ‘Someone You Loved’.
Healy’s own four-song acoustic set included covers of The La’s’ ‘There She Goes’ and James Taylor’s ‘Carolina In My Mind’ — the first time he has performed either live. He had previously included “There She Goes” on a 2020 Apple Music playlist of influential songs.
He also played stripped-back versions of The 1975’s ‘It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)’ and ‘About You’ — marking the first time he has performed either song solo.
The biennial fundraiser supports young performers in the North East. Healy’s father, Tim Healy, is chairman of the Sunday For Sammy Trust. The event marked its first edition since the death of founder Geoff Wonfor in 2022.
Capaldi previously joined The 1975 on stage at the same arena in 2023. He will headline two nights of In The Park festival in Newcastle this summer.
A new album from The 1975 is expected this year. Healy recently wrote on the band’s Subreddit that he has been “living in the studio and not sleeping much.”
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