The Factory Live: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Ben Ottewell / Christian Le Surf / Lucy – The Factory Live, Worthing 16 October 2026
Three Acoustic Performers. One Stage. One Seriously Brilliant Night!
Ben Ottewell – The Factory Live, Worthing
Ben Ottewell: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Sometimes you don’t need a full band, a wall of amplifiers or a stage packed with musicians to deliver a memorable gig. Sometimes all you need is one man, one acoustic guitar and a voice that could probably shake the foundations of The Factory Live. Welcome Ben Ottewell!
That was certainly the case when Ben Ottewell, singer/songwriter and unmistakable voice of the successful British rock band Gomez, brought his solo acoustic show to The Factory Live in Worthing. With solo albums including Shapes & Shadows and Rattlebag already under his belt, Ottewell has more than proved that life outside Gomez is anything but an acoustic side project. This was a performance built around his extraordinary voice, his song writing and, most impressively, his guitar playing.
Ben Ottewell: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Watching Ottewell work his way around the acoustic guitar was like being given a front-row seat at a masterclass. His fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, effortlessly moving between intricate rhythms, delicate passages and more powerful, percussive moments. There were times where I found myself watching his hands almost as much as listening to the songs!
Rich, weathered and instantly recognisable, Ottewell possesses a vocal range that seems to stretch in every direction. He can drop into deep, gravelly tones before suddenly climbing into higher registers with remarkable ease. It is a voice packed with character, emotion and experience. He has the voice that doesn’t simply sing a song but actually seems to inhabit it.
Ben Ottewell: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
There was nowhere for Ottewell to hide and no elaborate production to distract from the performance. Just the man, his guitar and a collection of songs allowed to breathe in their natural surroundings. The beauty of this performance was the sheer hard work and its simplicity. Sadly I didn’t catch a set list to give you a run down. We had some of Bens own material with a generous helping of Gomez material. Perfect!
Ben Ottewell: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
There was something genuinely captivating about watching such a accomplished musician create so much sound from a single acoustic guitar. Every chord, rhythm and vocal phrase seemed carefully placed, yet the performance retained a wonderfully natural, spontaneous feel.
Ben Ottewell: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
One man. One guitar. One extraordinary voice. And quite possibly one very relieved acoustic guitar after being put through that workout. It was still in one piece!
A stunning performance from Ben Ottewell — not just a gig, but a masterclass.
Ben Ottewell can be found here on Facebook
Christian Le Surf – The Factory Live, Worthing
Christian Le Surf: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
It was good to see Christian Le Surf back on a stage. I first saw him when he was supporting Welly back in April 2025. “Christian gives the impression of a player totally in control of every aspect and nuance of his instrument and performance. He set about his 30 minute set to prove it!”
There’s something rather satisfying about watching a musician build a song right in front of you. No backing band hiding in the shadows, no army of musicians waiting for their cue — just Christian Le Surf, a guitar, a sample pedal, a few pieces of percussion and a whole lot of musical imagination!
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- Christian Le Surf: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- Christian Le Surf: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Taking to the stage at The Factory Live in Worthing, guitarist, songwriter and singer Christian Le Surf delivered a performance that was as much about creating music as it was about performing it. His approach is wonderfully inventive. Using his sample pedal, Christian gradually layers guitar parts, rhythms, percussion and vocals, building each song piece by piece until what began as a solitary guitar phrase develops into something far bigger. It’s almost like watching a musical jigsaw puzzle being assembled in real time — except the pieces are being created as you watch.
Christian Le Surf: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The various percussion items in his pockets became an integral part of the performance, adding rhythm, texture and character. A tap here, a beat there, another guitar layer and suddenly the soundscape has grown into a surprisingly full arrangement. It really is amazing to watch!
And then there’s the guitar playing. Christian clearly knows his way around the instrument, switching between melodic passages and rhythmic playing with an easy confidence. His guitar becomes the foundation on which everything else is built, while his vocals provide the final ingredient that turns the collection of sounds into song. For the audience, there’s an added sense of involvement. You’re not simply watching someone perform a finished song — you’re watching the song being constructed from the ground up, even if that involves a broken string!
Christian Le Surf: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Christian Le Surf proved that one musician can create the sound of many — and make the whole process fascinating to watch. A clever, creative and thoroughly entertaining performance at The Factory Live. Well played!
Christian Le Surf can be found here
Lucy – The Factory Live, Worthing
Lucy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
There are some gigs where you simply listen to the music, and then there are those where the songs feel like someone has opened the pages of their life and invited you in. Lucy’s performance at The Factory Live in Worthing was very much the latter.
From the opening notes, Lucy delivered a brilliant set built around songs inspired by her own experiences, with stories and memories woven into the music. Tonight the highlights were the influences of her time in the USA and Los Angeles, which gave many of the songs an unmistakable sense of place, sunshine and freedom for adventure.
Armed with her acoustic guitar, Lucy demonstrated that you don’t need a wall of amplifiers to make an impact. Her playing was confident, expressive and beautifully matched to her song writing, providing the perfect backdrop for a voice that was undoubtedly the star of the show. Her voice filled the venue.
Lucy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
And what a voice it was. Warm, distinctive and full of character, Lucy could move effortlessly between songs that were intimate, providing us with shared reflective moments, and songs with a bigger emotional touch. There was an honesty to the performance that made the audience feel connected to the person behind the songs. I said to her afterwards, that the audience didn’t move during her performance. We didn’t want to miss a thing. We had some chat and a few funny anecdotes between the songs which strengthened the performer and audience bond.
Lucy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
A wonderful voice, accomplished acoustic guitar playing and songs with genuine stories behind them made this a memorable performance. Lucy left the stage having done exactly what a great songwriter should do: made us listen to her story and, for a little while, feel part of it.
Lucy: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Lucy told me she has only performed a couple of times so far. Keep going, you were brilliant and gave us a delightful 30 minute set.
Lucy has an Instagram account here
The Factory Live
Another night at the award winning The Factory Live where the live music did exactly what it was supposed to do: shake the room and put a smile on people’s faces. The sound mix was spot on, we could hear the instruments and vocals clearly, great job. As always, a top team on site to help! Check out what’s coming up on the WWW.
And Finally…
Thanks to Ben Ottewell, Christian Le Surf and Lucy.
Huge thanks to Black Rabbit Productions – Black Rabbit Productions hosted the evening. They work hard promoting live music on the south coast. They are a promotion company with years of experience putting on music shows. Tonight was superb. They have some great gigs lined up, a great time is pretty much guaranteed with these guys. You can find Black Rabbit Productions on the WWW https://www.blackrabbitproductions.co.uk/ and thanks to The Factory Live Team – fabulous as always!