The Live Room
The best all round roots music club in West Yorkshire
Sunday 23rd June 2024
Photos by Ron Pengelly
We had been really looking forward to welcoming Dean and his band to TLR since seeing them give a wonderful showcase performance at The Folk Alliance in Kansas in February and we weren’t disappointed. It was a brilliant show, full of the flavours of the South Western United States, great songs, harmonies and musicianship from Scotland’s finest. They were rewarded with a standing ovation.
Sunday 16th June 2024
Photos, video and review by Keith Belcher
Sunday 16th June 2024, The Live Room, Saltaire. The debut appearance at TLR of The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. The band are singer-songwriter Joziah Longo (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Sharkey McEwen (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, keys, flute,backing vocals ). RJ McCarty (bass, backing vocals) and Matthew Abourezk (drums). Some shots of a very memorable night at The Live Room.
This has to be up there as one of THE great nights at TLR. As well as some brilliant songs and stellar playing, it was just the craziest atmosphere, with what seemed like a room full of pirates and jellyfish – see the video of TransSlambovian Bipolar Express below! An amazing show by an amazing band.
Friday 7th June 2024
Photos, video and review by Keith Belcher
Friday 7th June 2024, The Live Room, Saltaire. Mia Kelly opening for Charm of Finches. Another performer ‘discovered’ by Ron and Hilary at Folk Expos in the States. This was Mia’s first UK tour. She had only arrived 2 days earlier. Mia is a singer /songwriter from Gatineau, Quebec and performs in French and English.
Mia was recently awarded Young Performer of The Year and Emerging Artist of The Year at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Canada has given us, amongst others, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell so they do produce the goods. Mia has one of those powerful and expressive voices that could probably fill a hall without amplification. There sounds like there is power and emotion in reserve.
Mia was solo tonight, thumb and finger strumming an acoustic guitar. I couldn’t help but think what that voice would be like in front of a full rock band. Maybe one day!
All the songs tonight were very well written, intelligent, insightful and meaningful lyrics about a number of topics. There was one co-write : ‘Meaning Well’, a co-write via Zoom with our own Blair Dunlop who has also appeared at TLR , albeit a few years back. Blair is the son of Fairport Convention/Albion Band founder Ashley Hutchings (also appeared at TLR) and Judy Dunlop. Also, a long suffering Spurs supporter.
The set started with Garden Through The War, a quite intense song about, among other things, relationships. Mia emanated “joie de vivre” throughout her set, nice to see so much enthusiasm and lovely smiles on display. A good rapport with the audience quickly established. No more French from me but we did have a song in French, ‘Dépaysée’. There were also songs about ancient men who sailed in boats of wood and the men were made of steel, (Bonefish Boys). A song about the River Ottawa but giving it it’s native speaker name of ‘Kitchissippi’. The final song of the brief set was ‘Vagabond’, an uptempo song to end the set inspired by a homeless stranger on a long bus journey asking her, out of the blue, to go ‘cliff jumping’. Mia left the stage to a very good response from the discerning TLR audience. I have no doubt she will be back.
TLR regular Eric wrote ; “Mia Kelly was wonderful, Hilary and Ron, please book her again…Top Notch songwriting”
Ron wrote of both acts; “Three incredibly talented young women, all still under 25. There’s a whole generation of great young musicians and songwriters out there.”
Charm of Finches. Two Australian sisters Ivy and Mabel Windred-Wornes. No strangers to The Live Room. They first appeared to TLR audiences during the Covid Lockdown period in 2020 via virtual electrickery and a huge transcontinental time difference. Our show that night was (I think) 7pm but they were ready to play at 3AM in Australia. Well done Ron and Hilary for keeping the music going during that dark period.
They first appeared in Yorkshire in the flesh in July, 2022 with Chris Brain opening. They were such a hit they were eagerly welcomed back to reappear in 2024. A description of their music I like is chamber folk’. It also has (to me) a kind of Victorian, oldy, gothic feel.
Part of the visual for that and their videos is their shopping in ‘Opp (Opportunity) Shops’ as the duo call our Charity Shops, buying old wedding dresses and dieing/adorning them. Ivy’s almost Bharatanatyamish hand movements, a form of classic Indian Hand dance mudras add to the ethereal quality of their songs.
The quality of their sibling harmonies is outstanding. The duo restricted themselves to keyboards and guitar for this show, a violin was used in previous shows. There was a request for ‘Treading Water’ which features the violin, as the encore. The planned encore was ‘Wonderful Oblivion’. After a few seconds thought, they obliged the audience with an unrehearsed wonderful version of ‘Treading Water’, showing great versatility. Another great reception from the TLR crowd.
TLR regular Mike Latham commented “This was our third time of witnessing Ivy and Mabel…The sounds they created with simple musical accompaniment and their distinctive voices was, for me, a very mature performance. They seem to have determined their own unique approach, particularly in the way they use their voices and can now develop their sound further.
Their sound has a very ethereal feel to me, enhanced by the style they present in their attire and videos. I am reminded of the films of Crawford and Davis and that was reflected in the title song from their new album ‘Marlinchen In The Snow’. Another stirring performance from them and new fans won as I know there were some in the audience who had not witnessed them before.
Another great event; thanks Ron and Hilary, once again. “
Sunday 2nd June 2024
Photos, review and video by Keith Belcher
6th June 2024. The Live Room, Saltaire. The last date of their UK tour but the debut appearance of Genticorum. Their first visit to the UK in over 10 years.
Genticorum are a traditional Québécois trio based in Montreal , Canada. Their members are Pascal Gemme (fiddle, Octave mandolin and vocals), Yann Falquet (guitar, jaw harp, and vocals), and Nicholas Williams (wooden flute, accordion). Pascal Gemme also does a lot of clogging during the show.
A truly superb display of harmonies and musicianship. They even had the audience singing in French without having to conjugate any verbs beforehand….and we know how multi-lingual us Brits are!
For those who missed them they are back in the UK for a few gigs and festivals including Cambridge in the Summer (thats apparently when the big yellow thing appears in the sky with a blue background).
They seemed to really enjoy playing at TLR and the 100 plus audience on a very warm night certainly enjoyed their playing. As soon as the show had finished Pascal made a beeline to Ron to thank him for the sound. From memory ” We knew after the first 8 bars that we could really enjoy playing here tonight!”. They certainly could and certainly did. Lets hope they return soon.
Friday 24th May 2024
Photos by Nigel Plant, review by Mike Latham
Uplifting!
I think that sums up last night’s performance neatly. Here was a band who had just endured a long trek north and yet they were able to conjure up such a magnificent show.
From the opening song they had the audience captured and the connection between those two groups within the room encouraged them to give a stellar performance. In the information sent out about the band previously, it was highlighted that the opening number was the only one agreed upon. The room was then read to determine the direction of travel and what a journey we were taken on. Stirring tunes, songs of light and shade and a true session of roots music through folk, Latin, a touch of reggae and the syncopated sounds of New Orleans. What more could an audience ask for?
We didn’t see them on their original appearance but we know they, like many performers we have been introduced to at The Live Room, are ones that we will look forward to seeing once again.
Many thanks to Hilary and Ron for another splendid evening.
Thursday 16th May 2024
Photos Richard Leach, videos by Cloddyclips, review Mike Latham
Stunning!
The support slot from George Boomsma set the scene for another great show. Both sets, the one from George and the main event from Katherine treated us to amazing voices and wonderful musicianship.
George used voice and guitar, not to forget the whistling, to show us another outstanding young musician. It all sounded so simple but his words and playing showed a maturity that was a pleasure to watch.
I only know Katherine from her first album but her performance also confirmed the maturity of a lot of young musicians who are travelling round sharing their art with ever increasing audiences.
Though there were only three musicians on stage (Harry Fausing Smith on violin, mandolin and vocals, joining Katherine and George) the sound they created was subtle, entrancing and a joy to listen to. Again, we witnessed a wonderful combination of voices which meshed together to create a gentle sound which drew the listener in to wonderful observations on life and relationships.
Long may we continue to witness these wonderful events that promoters like Ron and Hilary create for our delectation in the small venues that exist throughout this land.
Sunday 12th May 2024
Photos, video & review by Keith Belcher
Sunday 12th May 2024. The Live Room, Saltaire. The first visit of The Hackles. The Hackles are Kati Claborn (vocals, guitar, banjo, clarinet), Luke Ydstie (vocals, guitar, and Halli Anderson (vocals, violin, guitar).
All the way from Oregon they graced the Live Room Stage with a stunning display of three part harmonies and magical arrangements that interweaved effortlessly and blissfully.
Their acapella version of Michael Hurley’s ‘Werewolf’ was without a doubt one of the most beautiful songs I have heard at The Live Room (or anywhere else). I suspect that many in the audience, like me, were holding their breath spellbound. An acceptable crowd for their debut at TLR but next time around I suspect they will be sold out well in advance. Catch them if you can.
Sunday 5th May 2024
Photos & video by Keith Belcher, review by Keith Belcher with contribution from Mike Latham
What a great way to celebrate 12 years of TLR! This was a show in the truest sense of the word. We were transported back to the 50s with the self-confessed ‘retro man’ and his brilliant band.
Sunday 5th May 2024, The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. Debut appearance of Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys. Jake Vaadeland, a self-taught singer/songwriter originally from Saskatchewan, accompanied by his bandmates: guitarist Joel Rohs, banjo player Jaxon Lalonde and bass player Stephen Williams.
A very lively affair to say the least. I have reported the bassist to the Bass Police for being far too animated . We’re really not used to bass players dancing around the stage (with or without their double bass!). A very slick show from Jake and the boys, slick in just about every way , dialogue, music , songs, humour and not to mention hair!
Mike Latham said “Recent concert by Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys from Canada was another debut at the Live Room at Saltaire. A storming performance that went down well with the full room that greeted them on Sunday. A magnificent performance (in more ways than one), these young men proved to be masters of their craft.” He was pretty much spot on.
Friday 26th April 2024
Photos by Ron Pengelly
We were treated to a fantistic evening with this amazing duo on Friday 26th April. Both George Ulysses Brown (Ben Parker from England) and Josiah Chester Jones (David Berkeley from the USA) possess beautiful voices and together, their harmonies are exquisite. Add in brilliant songwriting, playing and a huge dollop of humour, and you have one of the great live acts on the folk and roots circuit. The sold out crowd were treated to wonderful show and we know that they’ll be sailing back this way on their home made raft before too long.
Sunday 21st April 2024
Review, photos and video by Keith Belcher
The last night of their UK tour but the first visit to Saltaire for Dallahan AND a sold out show. A band raised in the Scots/Irish traditional music scene but taking on many aspects of world music as well.What did the Live Room audience think of the band? No review coming from me but below are comments made by members of The Live Room’s Whatsapp group shortly after the show.
“A rousing performance from Dallahan this evening. It certainly went down well with the audience.”
“They were nothing short of sensational. One of my favourite shows. Amazing musicianship and arrangements.”
“A wonderful evening”
“Fantastic show last night, brilliant instrumentalists with amazing faculty all at the service of the music. What a privilege to be able to sit so close and watch them with a pint in my hand.”
Love the comment: ” ‘We know you’ve all got work in the morning’. Ha ha , think they’re used to playing to younger audiences. Anyhoo , what a superb band. Thanks for putting them on Ron and Hilary, absolute gem of a band.”
“… we were amazed by Dallahan last night. A new name to us but what a revelation. Without hearing them before one would expect the normal mix of Irish and Scottish tunes. Not so , just as the tunes were going in the normal cycle we were suddenly blasted in another direction. As Ron said , Jazz, other European and American styles would suddenly take over and the skill of the musicianship was amazing. I almost expected sparks to fly from the banjo in that opening number…”
“Thanks for some more great music”
OK , I think the audience quite liked the show. I overheard comments to Ron from several people already talking about show of the year and we’re still in April!
