Laura Marling, Hammersmith Apollo, London

The Hammersmith Apollo is not your average low-ceilinged, sticky floored music venue. With art-deco grandeur, and seating tiers that spiral to dizzying altitudes, it all feels very theatrical, like what you’re about to see is timeless. This is, after all, a stage that has hosted The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Queen and David Bowie. The place has a notorious reputation for legendary concerts. Due to a faux-pas by the friend entrusted with the logistics of booking from the seating plan map (it later turned out she read it upside down) we were at the most vertigo-inducing heights of all, the back row. However this actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because seeing Laura Marling - a lone figure with a guitar - commanding one of the biggest stages in London was something quite special.

Laura Marling knows this is a very special night too. “Once I came here to see Steely Dan” she says in her adorably gentle voice, to cheers of approval from the packed audience. “I think I was the youngest, and most female person here” she giggles nervously, and the audience are in love already. “Marry me Laura!” yells a particularly infatuated girl. Marling coyly replies that she doesn’t believe in marriage before coolly picking out the intro to ‘Darkness Descends’ and unleashing that incredible voice.

Hundreds of blinding gold lights erupt from the back of the stage and Marling is no longer alone spotlighted in the dark. A full live band boasting cellists and flawless backing harmonies burst into life. The whole effect is breathtaking. It may be clichéd, but it is one of those ‘goosebump moments’ you chase after as a music fan. ‘Blackberry Stone’ is particularly magical; a note-perfect Marling backed only by a dimly lit string section. We are also treated to a new song titled ‘Pray For Me’, and with the dark lyrics “I cannot love, I want to be alone” everyone is hushed in awe right back to the top row.

The folksy pounding of ‘Devils Spoke’ and the sheer beauty of ‘Rambling Man’ are both clear crowd favourites, leading to further marriage proposals. Marling can’t quite believe it. “We were really nervous about tonight” she says softly before playing her final song “but this has been everything we ever wanted. It’s really special to be here”. The final notes of ‘I Speak Because I Can’ ring out, and the whole Apollo gets to their feet in standing ovation. As the lights die and the audience file into the night, not even a sighting of Bill Oddie in the foyer can steal the spotlight away. The word special keeps coming to mind time and time again because there is a feeling that we’ve just witnessed something great. Laura Marling deserves to have her name written among the legions of legends that have graced the Apollo’s notorious stage, because she too is timeless.