Tag Archives: live

Hejira, Junction J2, Cambridge, 22 July 2024

A full Junction J2 was treated to an evening of relaxed sound from the seven piece band Hejira, formed by guitarist Pete Oxley to play their own tunes but mainly as a showcase for the mid-career albums of Joni Mitchell. These collections were infused with jazz style and top-rate session players, especially on the live double LP ‘Shadows and Light’. At the time the compositions were given their emotional range and depth by Joni’s vocals and for the show tonight singer Hattie Whitehead delivered the empathetic and nuanced performances that did the songs full justice. The many highlights included ‘Coyote’, ‘Free Man in Paris’, ‘Woodstock’ and as an encore, the brilliant ‘A Case of You’.

https://www.facebook.com/hejiracelebratingjoni/

http://www.hattiewhitehead.com

Dos Floris, Strawberry Fair, Cambridge, 1 June 2024

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The Strawberry Fair – Cambridge’s highly regarded free festival of music and culture is a platform for a huge range of talented acts and as the darkness fell across the site singer/songwriter/musician Dos Floris arrived on stage. Many of her earlier recordings and shows feature dense instrumentation and fabulous electronic soundscapes but tonight the songs were stripped back to an effects-free acoustic guitar. This emphasises the resonance, strength and sensitivity of her natural voice – a powerful instrument indeed.

She opened with the confiding, dreamlike ‘The Other Side’ (‘….in this fading light nobody feel the pain…’), which added a mellow warmth to the cold summer evening. New song ‘Fireflies’ continued to weave the magic along with the subtle melancholy of ‘Mexico’ (‘…..but if there’s a chance, we’ll go wipe our tears away go dance in Mexico….’). It was the gentle grandeur of ‘Mountains’ that stole the show; short lyrical phrases and effective melody building to a grand finish.

Florence Donovan aka Dos Floris splits her time between Italy and UK so it was a rare treat to see her perform In Cambridge (also as part of a bill with Tape Runs Out and Scatterchild at the Blue Moon the previous evening!).

https://dosfloris.com/home

Two Ways Home, Tall Trees, Cambridge, 7 May 2024

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Tall Trees is a welcoming former pub and now a plant-decorated music and food venue on the edge of Cambridge city centre. Opening performer Georgia Nevada played a short set of her own heartfelt compositions and a cover of ‘Small Town Hypocrite’, with her strong voice accompanied by acoustic guitar.

Two Ways Home is duo Isabella and Lewis Folkner, tonight augmented by drums and versatile second guitar to add extra depth to their country-based sound. Like Georgia, they have a warm and engaging stage presence. A real strength of the band is their song variety; from the wide open spaces of single ‘Medicine Man’ and ‘Waiting on Luck’ to the country-rock of ‘Feet on the Asphalt’ (…watch the fun sock video too…). Then the quieter songs have a real emotional heft, using three-part harmonies to great effect on the folky ‘Push and Pull’ and especially the gorgeous ‘Don’t Give Up On Me Tonight’, performed to rapt attention from the audience.

‘Tattoo’ has neat lyrical ideas then the up-tempo pop of ‘Broken Hearts Club’ ends this excellent show, leaving behind many very impressed listeners.

https://www.twowayshome.com/

https://www.georgianevada.com/

TVAM, Portland Arms, Cambridge, 1 February 2024

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Amethysts opened the show with their spectral and special blend of vocals, electronics and effects laden guitar, and tonight there is the addition of a live drummer. From the flourish and catchy chorus of ‘How It Is’ through the echoing guitar-driven ‘Pressure Makes Diamonds’ and the classy yearning pop of ‘My Love’ it all works beautifully.

TVAM is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist and singer Joe Oxley, his vocals and guitar complemented on stage by extra keyboards and drums. It is a huge, enveloping sound for the whole set after the stately prelude of ‘Future Flesh’ gives way to a wall of dense beats and electronic textures.

Words blend in like another instrument and add an extra dimension to the tracks, many from his most recent LP ‘High Art Lite’. The evening ended with the epic ‘Total Immersion’, continually building in layers and relentlessly brilliant.

https://t-v-a-m.bandcamp.com

https://weareamethysts.bandcamp.com

The Unthanks in Winter, Corn Exchange, Cambridge, 19 December 2023

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Katherine Priddy opened the show with her warm and atmospheric songs infusing the wide spaces of the Corn Exchange, delivered by her gentle voice and empathetic guitar work. From ‘Wolf’ to ‘Letters from a Travelling Man’ to the mythical ‘Eurydice’, Katherine brought style and emotion to these subtle vignettes.

The Unthanks were previewing a seasonal suite that will eventually be recorded; an amalgam of classical and folk influences blended by the timeless harmonies of Rachel and Becky Unthank. This mostly continuous performance featured dreamlike renditions of traditional pieces such as ‘The Coventry Carol’ and ‘The Cherry Tree Carol’ interspersed with wintry instrumentals.

The band conjured up snowbound landscapes and distant comforting lights using an array of acoustic instruments and the fluid vocal line-up of this gifted ensemble. Ending with the haunting anthem ‘Tar Barrel In Dale’ and the valedictory ‘Dear Companions’ it was a show to linger long through the Christmas season.

http://www.the-unthanks.com

https://linktr.ee/katherinepriddy

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Corn Exchange, Cambridge, 29 November 2023

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Seasonal songs, greatest hits and new tracks from latest album ‘HANA’ laced with brio and style by national treasure Sophie Ellis-Bextor was a show not to be missed. Opening act Holiday Sidewinder performed a set of summery electro-pop and managed to quickly reduce the echoing confines of the Corn Exchange to an intimate space with her confiding lyrics on tracks like ‘Leo’ and ‘Casino’.

It was a bit early in the year but Sophie and her band brought the Christmas spirit to a cold evening; ‘Last Christmas’, ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ and ‘Christmas Wrapping’ all featured but it was the mighty ‘Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)’ and ‘Get Over You’ that showcased her pop delivery to the max. Covers of ‘Like a Prayer’ and ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie ignited the crowd and euro pop belter ‘Hypnotized’ was a real highlight for me.

‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ ended the main set but of course we wanted more – ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’ was followed by an acoustic rendition of the pensive ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ sung from one of the theatre boxes, a thoughtful and emotional end to a show that was a celebratory delight.

https://sophieellisbextor.net/

https://www.holidaysidewinder.com/

Jo Ash, Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon, 13 July 2023

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The atrium of this historic building was the venue for an acoustic evening with singer/songwriter Jo Ash, accompanied by piano and with guitar on some songs from fellow Derecho band member Mike Wheatley. It was an opportunity to hear a full range of songs from her back catalogue, including new material and covers.

Starting with the moody spikes of ‘Drama Queen’ from her recently released album ‘Growing, Flying, Falling’, it was then the cosmic expanses of ‘4D Journey’, featuring one of her most memorable choruses. The atmosphere-drenched waltz of ‘Innocence’ discreetly steals the show in the first part of the evening along with Jo’s join up of Bowie’s Space Oddity and her own rather gorgeous ‘Otherworldly’.

‘The Painter’ was the bluesy opener to the second set, featuring a vocal rich with understated emotion as was a cover of The Beatles ‘Across The Universe’. Derecho song ‘Fear’ is a lyrically neat poprock track and the newly recorded electronica of ‘Run’ works well when played acoustically. The grand finale waltz of ‘Blue Heart’ soared up into the high octagonal roof of this attractive and intimate venue; it was a superb evening of compelling and mesmeric music from this very talented performer.

http://www.joashmusic.com

https://www.commhall.org/

Half Man Half Biscuit, Junction J1, Cambridge, 15 April 2023

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Cambridge indie-stalwarts Model Village have supported HMHB before and tonight they warm up the sold out crowd with tales of getting older, social comment and wry observations over some jangly guitar and keys. With bass and drums setting a jazzy-folk pace for Lily’s vocals, the Village feature tracks from their three albums; most recently the critically acclaimed ‘World of Carp’.

Half Man Half Biscuit return to the Junction for a near two hour set including many tracks from early on in their long career. Good sound quality meant we heard nearly every lyrical twist and cultural reference as well as the dynamic instrumental power that intermeshes so effectively. Full of highlights, a brilliant show much appreciated by the packed audience.

https://www.hmhb.co.uk/

https://modelvillage.bandcamp.com/album/world-of-carp

Ward Thomas, Corn Exchange, Cambridge, 10 April 2023

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Charlie Worsham opened the show; soon connecting with the audience with his combination of guitar, mandolin and warm vocals. Tales of Nashville and his extensive musical journey (including a performance in Cambridge in his college days) introduced his thoughtful songs; highlights being ‘Young To See’ and ‘Old Time’s Sake’.

Ward Thomas have many excellent songs; their extensive set featured most of their new (fifth) album ‘Music In The Madness’, starting with the mid-tempo ‘All Over Again’ and they later included my favourite new ballad ‘If It All Ends Today’; a casually beautiful melody and sentiment delivered to perfection.

The album is mostly their confident country-pop but ‘Justice & Mercy’ is rich story- telling Americana, joined on mandolin by Charlie Worsham to augment the superb band. A cover of Razorlight’s ‘America’ fits in neatly and there was plenty of time for older classics, especially the heartbreak double of ‘Cartwheels’ and ‘Guilty Flowers’.

Catherine and Lizzy’s vocal harmonies combine with strength and subtlety, showcased especially on the quieter or slower songs like ‘One More Goodbye’ or the acoustic stillness of ‘Safe’.

An encore of the celebratory ‘Carry You Home’ followed by the gentle ‘Love Does’ was the perfect end to this excellent evening.

https://www.wardthomasmusic.com/

https://www.charlieworsham.com/

Indiepop Alldayer, Firebug, Leicester, 4 March 2023

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A revisit to this haven of musical adventure and the chance discovery of hidden gems. The Verinos were part of an initiative to encourage older women to form bands and their self-penned tunes went down well with the early afternoon crowd.

Breakup Haircut were the highlight for us, full of frenetic punk sparkle and with songs like ‘Out Of My Way (I’m Not Getting On The Nightbus)’ and ‘Why Can’t I Be Cool Enough to Move to Berlin?’ there was an addictive energy to the performance. Lilith Ai held the audience rapt with just guitar and voice, interweaving introspective lyrics with sparse yet intricate musical lines.

The blast of ‘Blurred Visions’ opened the set from Chemtrails and there was no let up from the guitar, keys and dual vocals from this sonically powerful band, very well supported by the packed audience. The reassuring indie constructions from adults were very welcome; full of lyrical intrigue and unpredictable instrumental turnarounds. Headlining band ME REX ended up as a solo performance but by this time the low key, thoughtful songs were a fitting closedown to the evening…

https://www.facebook.com/merexband/

https://www.facebook.com/breakuphaircut/

https://www.facebook.com/chemtrailsband666/

https://www.facebook.com/sadultsband/

https://www.facebook.com/lilithaimusic/

https://www.facebook.com/theverinos/

https://sweepingthenation.blogspot.com/