The best all round roots music club in West Yorkshire
Category: Gig reviews
Mar 11 2026
Chris Wood 2026
Sunday 8th March 2026
Photos by Keith Belcher
Many thanks to everyone who came along and gave us a sold out evening for Chris Wood on Sunday. Chris was on superb form; his guitar and voice blending beautifully around those fantastic songs of his. In this writer’s opinion, ‘Spitfires’ alone is worth the price of entry. Although originally released some 17 years ago, it is sadly more relevant now that ever.
Never a polemicist or traditional protest singer, Chris nevertheless manages to echo and give words to the thoughts that haunt us during these very dark days. As he says: ‘I hope that people leave the show with the feeling that at least they’re not alone’.
However, not all his songs mine the ills of modern society, stories of replacing a much loved old sofa and taking his daughter to university show a family man dealing with the passing of time and are written with beauty, humour and much love.
He also gave us wonderful versions of some of our traditional songs, three of which were learned from his friend and sometime mentor, Martin Carthy, and were performed in tribute to the great man who has just retired from live performance.
The phrase ‘national treasure’ is much over-used, but is surely apposite in the case of this superb chronicler of English life. A brilliant show.
Mar 4 2026
Niall McCabe
Friday 27th February 2026
Photos and video by Keith Belcher, review by Mike Latham
A wonderful performance last night. We missed him at Hullabaloo and I hadn’t yet listened to him. His style was not what one might expect from someone from an island off the coast of County Mayo but he has clearly been listening to lots of different sounds over the years. The music of his first few songs made me think of the folk of the sixties , Renbourn and Jansch a bit, but the American country influences came through loud and clear as the evening progressed.
He’s developed his own, wonderful, guitar style, creating great sounds. His songs were marvellous tales of grief, wonderment and humanity, clearly influenced by his local culture as well as the folk music of his homeland and abroad. All was topped off with a great sense of humour and a perfect voice.
Thanks for introducing such another fantastic artist to us, Ron and Hilary.
Videos by Keith Belcher
Crescendo
Valentine's Day
Mar 4 2026
Ashley Campbell
Friday 20th February 2026
Photos by Richard Leach, video by Keith Belcher
Ashley Campbell made her return visit to TLR after last year’s Writers Round with Jeff Cohen. This time she had her own band with her, comprising Thor Jensen, guitar and vocals; Mark Lewis, bass and vocals; and Jack Amblin, drums, washboard and vocals. They were also joined by Andrew Cox, from Post Modern Jukebox on sax.
videos by keith belcher
I See You
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Feb 7 2026
Folk Alliance New Orleans 2026
Enjoy some shots of our trip to The Big Easy and some of the sights and sounds from another fantastic trip. Watch out for some new artists appearing at TLR in coming years!
Heathrow and goodbye UK for a week!
Opening shots of our arrival and first morning, before everything kicks off
View from the 40th floor on arrival at our hotelMaking ourselves at home…Beignets at Cafe Du Monde on our first morning
A couple of street scenes from St. Anne’s and Royal
Busking budgies!Lower Bourbon Street at night
We kick off the first night of Official Showcases….!
Nikki D & The Sisters of ThunderCrystal ShawandaRyanhoodRobbie HechtHouse of HamillThe Milk Carton Kids
It’s 10.30pm and off upstairs to the first night of Unofficial Showcases!
The Cody SistersI Draw SlowVerandaJack BarksdaleLily HenleySam Robbins
Second day recovery morning, still jet lagged and some time to meander…
Second night Unofficial Showcases kick off at 10.30pm
It’s up to the 8th – 12th floors and lots of running around hotel rooms!
Dean OwensMatt Axton (son of Hoyt)Sophie LukacsVerandaBandits on the RunDallahanRanagri
Third day and another recovery period….!
The lifts, impossible to use come unofficial showcase time, you have to resort to the fire stairs!A first visit to the exhibition hall…Brunch in the Two Chicks, a great cafe in Gravier St.The iconic streetcars
Third night Official Showcases
The WildwoodsGeorgia MooneyJohn SmithAblaye Cissoko & Cyrille BrottoI Draw SlowMarty O’ReillyKyshonaDugRainbow GirlsMitch KingBanshee TreeChastity Brown
Onto the third night Unofficials…
Crys Matthews in the British UndergroundAmanda PacaliAlice & Freebo…had to call in and say hello!Christine LeneeSam RobbinsYe VagabondsTammy Lynn & Colin Gilmore
……and off to bed at 3.30am!
Day 4 and another recovery period…
On our way to the Bywater District for the British Underground takeover of Euclid Records
John Smith doing an in-store performance. Needless to say, Ron added to his vinyl collection here!
Then it got wild in the British Underground Room until around 3am see the videos!
All of our British Underground team at about 3.15 am! What a bunch!
Sunday and a gentle wind down before another great night in the Upper 9th Ward at BJ’s Lounge!
Some of the houses on our walk, all getting ready for Mardi Gras…
James McClaskey & his Rhythm Band
After that it got a bit blurry….! There were free hot dogs though!
A final few shots from Monday and Tuesday…so long NOLA, we hope to see you again…
It’s always Christmas somewhere…!The Mississippi RiverHilary riding the streetcar…The Carousel Bar just before we left for the airport
Videos from Folk Alliance 2026
Streetband in the French Quarter
Dirk & Amelia Powell
British Undergound farewell party
British Underground farewell party part two
Feb 6 2026
Robert Vincent
Plus support Amy Jo Clough
Friday 16th January 2026
Photos by Richard Leach
The TLR debut of Robert Vincent and his trio was completely sold out and he gave us a stunning performance. What a voice! He received a standing ovation and we’ve rarely had so many rapturous comments from an audience as they were leaving. It was such a great show that we did that rare thing ourselves and immediately rebooked him, this time with his full band for January next year! Tickets on sale soon. We had a great opening spot from Amy Jo Clough too!
Thanks to Richard Leach for the photos.
Dec 19 2025
Homegrown Bluegrass
Sunday 14th December 2025
Photos by Nigel Plant
We closed of our 2025 programme with a celebration of all things bluegrass (with more than a dash of country, jazz and contemporary songs) from across Yorkshire. Featuring around twenty musicians, six bands, a tableful of cheese sandwiches and mince pies, and a packed house, it was a great way to bring our musical year to a close!
Many thanks go to Kevin Garratt and John Bennett, who brought all the musicians together ad also performed on the day, and also to Peter Mate, who first launched the idea and with Adrian Gallagher spent several hours preparing all those cheese savouries!
Dec 12 2025
Jackie Oates & John Spiers
Sunday 7th December 2025
Photos by Nigel Plant, review by Mike Lathamvia the TLR WhatsApp group
It was our last gig of the year and, as others have said, it was another great concert.
Jackie does, indeed, have a fabulous voice and the playing of both musicians was sublime. I’ve seen John playing in many combinations before but last night really opened my ears up to the wonderful sounds he could create with his melodeons. Fabulous.
As Paul said, we heard songs and tunes from many lands, as well as a bit of background. What struck me was the unity of composition looking at how people and communities dealt with issues, be it caring for children or uniting together in an endeavour to support one another. That echoed what Hilary had talked about with regard to small venues like TLR. There we were, a group gathered together to share in the experience of songs and tunes from, not only recent times but also from centuries past in the development of our country.
Such gatherings show the importance that the joy of supporting TLR at the evenings we have attended at the Caroline Street Club throughout the year.
This was another wonderful concert in what has been an exceptional year. A big ‘Thank You’ to all involved for bringing that joy to us.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and more great music in the year to come.
Nov 24 2025
Malin Lewis
Thursday 13th November 2025
Photos and video by Keith Belcher, review Pete Lambert
A truly exceptional gig on Thursday by Malin Lewis and friends ..
I had in fact bumped into them (Malin) in the Old Inn in Carbost, close to the Talisker Distillery, a few years ago – here was someone quite special in skill and experience – that was clear even back then.
I began playing the Highland Pipes in 2010 and had my own set of Scottish small Pipes made by Ross Calderwood of Lochalsh Pipes in about 2018.
What a thrill, then to see them at the live room a few years later, one outstanding talent alongside two others in Sally Simpson on fiddle and Ali Hutton on guitar.
The skill and musicianship of all three was truly outstanding and mesmerising ! The way the two fiddles interacted, exchanging melody and harmony with apparent ease and held together with the powerful and rhythmic guitar and penetrating into wondrous and unknown places (the halocline)
The sound of the Lindsay system small pipes was exquisite: these extending the range of the normal A chanter from 9 notes (low G to high A) to a full two octaves low D to high D) and creating a whole new world for this noble instrument.
And if this were not enough, Malin’s mastery of the Great Highland Pipes was total and glorious! Exceptional in every way.
Now to learn some of Malin’s tunes … at least those that can be managed by a 9 note set. Thanks for bringing this extraordinary trio to The Live Room, Ron and Hilary !
videos by keith belcher
Hiraeth/Trans
Bulgarian Tunes
Gavottes
Nov 23 2025
Alice Howe & Freebo
Sunday 2nd November 2025
Photos, review and videos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 2nd November 2025. The debut appearance of Alice Howe and Freebo at The Live Room, Saltaire. There was a good crowd but I think if we’re lucky enough for a second appearance it will be a sell out on word of mouth alone. “We’re so glad to be at The Live Room, it has the best wallpaper of everywhere”, they announced at the start of the show. The semi antique, post diluvian Workingmen’s Club décor at the Live Room attracts a lot of attention from our musical guests. Amazement or incredulity rather than admiration possibly.
The opening song “Twilight” with Alice taking lead vocals gave us an indication of the musicianship and vocals we about to be entertained by for the rest of the evening. It set quite a benchmark. Freebo has a great back story and so much experience and stories from playing with some of the legends of Americana. His bass playing is legendary and it was easy to see why. His vocals backed Alice on the first song along with the inspired bass playing.
Alice took lead on the first 3 songs before we had a blues from Freebo “She’s My Personal GPS”, another of his songs followed “Everything To Do With Love”. The harmonies were superb as was Freebo’s acoustic guitarwork. Alice took over bass duties occasionally throughout the show while Freebo played guitar as well as bass. Another Freebo song for the dog lovers out there was next , “She Loves Me More Than My Dog”.
“Standing Ovation” was next, Freebo taking the lead again. The next song was from Alice, about her Dad, he passed when she was 18, “ a fine chap” she called him, “Forever Is A Long Time”, a very moving song. Alice taking lead guitar and vocals with Freebo’s bass meandering gently through the song. Very rapidly we were at the last song of the set. Another Alice song, “What About You”. The Merch desk was very busy at the interval.
Set Two opened with “Your Love Is The Flame”, a co write , as yet unrecorded, Alice taking lead vocals. Set 2 featured some cover songs. They were all excellent , the first had Alice singing the classic Dylan song “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right. There were also covers from Little Steven, Lowell George , Stephen Bruton , John Prine and an immaculately arranged and performed version of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case Of You”.
Those who know me know that generally I regard Joni covers as sacrilege but this was superb. We’ve had some great Joni covers at TLR, The Shook Twins version of “Blue” was immense also. Another new song followed “Daddy’s Car”, Alice taking the lead , some great bass runs throughout. There was some great rapport with the audience throughout the show. Freebo took the lead vocals and guitar on the late Stephen Bruton’s “Too Many Memories”, a truly beautiful song that forced you to listen to the lyrics.
The harmonies were divine. Another cover followed “Sailing Shoes” from Little Feat, in many people’s opinion the best live band ever. Freebo sang his first ever song “If Not Now When”, it’s about doing something you’re not sure of or wondering whether to do . It reminded me a little of the sentiments of the late Guy Clarke’s “The Cape”, both mentioning a leap of faith. John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery” preceded the encore “A Case Of You”. We were lucky enough to get a second encore , another co write “Sometimes It’s For Nothing”. This up-tempo song allowed the Live Room choir to join in. It was , without doubt, a really good night. The room was buzzing. The audiences line was “I Feel Good!!!”, they certainly did!
videos by keith belcher
She Loves My Dog More Than Me
Daddy's Car
A Case Of You
Nov 23 2025
Flook 2025
Thursday 20th November 2025
Photos Nigel Plant, videos Keith Belcher, review Mike Latham
Another stunner of a show last night.
The musicianship of the four players was outstanding. I was mesmerised by the intricate patterns that each instrument created and how they all meshed together to create those fabulous tunes.
It will definitely require a lot of thought whittling down all those outstanding performances we have witnessed this year.
videos by keith belcher
The Knot In Georgia; Ed's Big 5O; and Faqqua
John Joe Kelly Bodhrán Solo
Jig For Sham; The Dawn Wall; Johnny D's; and Timewaver
