In Photos: John Grant (with Midlake) & Lanterns on The Lake @ Royal Festival Hall, London (07.09.11)

John Grant's star is firmly in the ascendancy following last year's critically-adored Queen of Denmark LP. Fans of the former Czars frontman are tonight treated to something a bit special, as the singer's close friends (not to mention backing band during Queen...'s recording) Midlake take to the stage alongside him for a special one-off Festival Hall show. While Grant's self-deprecating between-song banter may bring smiles to faces, his songs are, for the most part, devastatingly sad. Audience tears certainly aren't in short supply throughout the vast arena, the more so when the Denver native takes to the piano to showcase a handful of brand new solo numbers. The atmosphere remains little short of spine-tingling from start to finish, and a richly-deserved standing ovation eventually sends this truly gifted performer off into the night.

Grant's Bella Union labelmates Lanterns on The Lake kick off proceedings this evening, and the sextet's soothingly cinematic indie doesn't fail to impress – look out for debut album Gracious Tide, Take Me Home when it arrives next week. By her own admission, Anni Timms is part fangirl, part photographer for the night; check out her shots from a highly memorable gig by clicking on any of the thumbnails below.