The singer has had several top-ten hits and is even due to perform for the King at next week’s Coronation

Freya Ridings performing in Devonshire Square (credit Palmers Green Action Team)

Singer-songwriter Freya Ridings delighted Palmers Green residents by playing an impromptu set at a local street market.

The multi-instrumentalist, who has had several top-ten UK hits, grew up in the area and is set to play for the King at next week’s Coronation. But Freya found time to perform at the newly-launched Devonshire Square space where a market was taking place on Saturday (22nd).

Freya went back to her routes for the set, borrowing another performer’s guitar and playing some of her hits for shoppers who had gathered to enjoy the community street market for local artists, creators and musicians.

Freya said playing gigs in North London was “the lifeblood” of her teens and twenties and she is “very happy to be back”. Joined by her new husband, folk singer Ewan J Phillips, the couple charmed the audience, reminiscing about their first meeting in local bar On Broadway.

Shirley Rose, who co-ordinated the music programme for the market run by Palmers Green Action Team, said: “It was fantastic that Freya came to shop at our community street market and we couldn’t believe it when she offered to perform a few of her songs. She is a great inspiration to our local musicians, and it is lovely that she hasn’t forgotten her Palmers Green roots.”

Freya shot to fame in 2017 with her ballad Lost Without You. Her new album Blood Orange is released on 5th May.

The street market at Devonshire Square is a community-driven event showcasing local artists, makers, food producers and musicians, described as “an opportunity for the community to come together and support up-and-coming local businesses”. The next market is taking place on Saturday, 15th July.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.