The first gig of the year promises to be a good one, so we get to the Folk House nice and early since I've forgotten who's playing. It's a good job too, as we secure prime seats at the front and the place is sold out by 8:40. We are in the small room upstairs where the bar is which makes for an intimate setting. My phone battery fails me, so no photos for this review I'm afraid.
Rose Kemp sings a capella tonight, her rich beautiful voice demanding silence from the sardine-packed audience. Sardine-packed at the side and the back that is, we have lots of room at the front. I wonder idly if I could walk to the piano and if I play the start note and the end note would she have gone flat? It seems not, save for a familiar '...shit. I've forgotten the next bit! How does the next verse go?' halfway through a Tom Waits song. A haunting, touching and untypical performance from this great singer. 'How can anyone win these TV competitions or even think they can sing when there is a girl with a voice like that?' the GF says. I'm forced to agree.
The Sky Is Blue is an extremely pleasant surprise, intense acoustic songs and momentary bursts of genius. Electric bass, acoustic guitar, flute/clarinet and female backing vocals and such nicey nicey songs... Oh wait. Yeah that bit is pretty dark. This one's nearly a rock song! I add another performer to my list of 'must see again and acquire music from' people I've only ever met on Choke. Paul from headlining band North Sea Navigator joins Jon the singer for a rendition of online collaboration song 'Home' by a group they call 'That Burial Ground In Your Head'. Jon's version turns the piece into a stark, haunting and extremely emotive song.
Rachael Dadd plays today accompanied by harp, cello and two violins. Her 'I'm dancing like a fairy in a flowery dress in the Secret Garden' songs get a little bit drowned out by the strings. We can't here the harp as much as we'd like. Being right at the front not looking like such a great idea now, but the songs are still pretty and gentle and ...pastoral is probably the word I'm looking for.
North Sea Navigator play an acoustic set today. Tim the pianist/singer/drummer is very ill, but produces an admirable performance, managing to reach high notes no ill person should attempt. Personally I prefer the songs like this, without the distorted guitar muddying the genius of the the instrumental interplay, the way the words fit the music, the meaning of the lyrics. It is a great performance and we go home more than satisfied, NSN CD burning brightly in my coat pocket.