The Live Room
The best all round roots music club in West Yorkshire
plus support Misty River
Photos & videos by Keith Belcher
A great billing of two fine Americana artists from either side of the Atlantic. This was Rachel’s third visit to TLR after a double bill with Molly Tuttle back in 2018 and her recent show with Sierra Hull. Rachel was accompanied by Steve Haan on bass and vocals. First timer at TLR, Misty River, comprised of Carmen Phelan and Adam Morley.
Sunday 5th February 2023
Photos and video by Keith Belcher
We were absolutely blown away by Canada’s Del Barber last Sunday, as were the crowd. We love it when a show exceeds expectations and this one did that by a country mile. Del and his band were absolutely superb in every sense: fabulous songs, amazing musicianship, funny, engaging and entertaining. The whole evening was fantastic from start to finish and we can’t wait to welcome them back to TLR again, when we’re sure it will be a sell-out.
Sunday 22nd January 2023
Review & photos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 22nd January 2023 at The Live Room at Saltaire
Illinois born, Nashville based multi instrumentalist Rachel Baiman opened the evening. This was Rachel’s second visit to TLR. The first being 27th April 2019 doubling with friend the fabulous Molly Tuttle. Rachel will soon be making her 3rd TLR appearance on March 17th as a headliner with her trio.
Rachel gave a great and varied opening set playing banjo, guitar and fiddle with vocals and songs to to match her musicianship. Rachel also made an appearance joining Sierra and Justin for their encore. This show could have been sold out twice. The enthusiastic audience coming from far and wide.
Playing hardly begins to cover the virtuoso performance of Sierra Hull and her hsband, Justin Moses. Sierra is Tennessee born and bred, now residing, where else?, but Nashville.
What a track record for one still so young. A Grand Old Opry debut at age 10, Rounder Records contract and first album at age 13. No wonder Sierra is so highly regarded by the Nashville cognoscenti.
What we got on Sunday night was nothing short of a musical masterclass and it all looked so so easy. I found myself counting the fingers on Justin and Sierra’s hands, so melodic, so fast and so synchronised, if there were notes dropped I wasn’t aware. Just breathtaking, the audience were both very appreciative and not surprisingly very, very impressed .
A superb gig. Sierra’s friend and opener Rachel Baiman joined Sierra and Justin on stage for the unavoidable encore. I don’t think the audience would have left without one.
Friday 20th January 2023
Review & photos by Keith Belcher
Friday 20th January, The Live Room.
Opening for Canadian Trio The Lonesome Ace Stringband were Phrase and Fable, a duo consisting of Maria Wallace and Phil Stott . Maria Wallace on vocals, claw hammer banjo and fiddle and Phil on vocals and guitar.
This was Lonesome Ace Stringband’s second visit to TLR. Last time was 15th September 2019. I saw them earlier that year sharing a double header with The Local Honeys at Celtic Connections on 26th January 2019. They would have been back a long time ago had it not been for you know what.
Like a fine wine they just carried on getting better and better and the audience had a real treat on Friday. They are Chris Coole on banjo, John Showman on fiddle and Max Malone on upright bass. Singing is divided between all three in both as soloists and harmonies.
Not surprisingly the show had been sold out for quite a while. A double gig weekend with Sierra Hull and Justin Moses (also sold out)on Sunday 22nd January. Judging from the very rapturous response from the audience they will be back.
Sunday 13th November 2022
Photos and review by Keith Belcher
Sunday 13th November 2022, The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. The penultimate gig of 2022. A debut appearance from Irish/Scots trio Cua : John Davidson (fiddle, percussion, vocals) Shane Booth (guitar, vocals) and Ros O’Meara (bouzouki, guitar, percussion, vocals).
Their 5th UK tour, another band I was unaware of, thanks again Ron & Hilary. All live in Co Laois, John started life in Edinburgh but now lives in Co Laois also. A truly eclectic blend of musical styles and influences that delighted the very attentive and appreciative Live Room audience.
The range encompassed predictably the music of Ireland and Scotland but also ranged from the middle east to South America and all points in between (a Venezualan two step from Shane and John while Ros changed a bouzouki string!). By anyone’s standards this was a seriously musically diverse show whilst retaining a very personal stamp throughout.
Musicianship was superb as were the vocals. Several songs performed acappella that were just a treat for the ears. It wasn’t just the music though, the banter and bonhomie were also wonderful. All paces of music, soft and delicate at times very fast and driving at others. Indeed at some points in the show if some part of your anatomy wasn’t attempting to keep time with the music then you may need to check your level of medication or consult an audiologist. Hopefully they will be back in the near future.
Sunday 30th October 2022
Review and photos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 30th October 2022: The debut appearance of Dublin based 5 piece band I Draw Slow at The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. Full marks to Ron and Hilary for this booking. One of only 3 shows in this “tour”.
At the end of this show I was mystified why I hadn’t heard of this band before. Like many great modern Irish bands they may be better known in The States than UK. They’ve played very prestigious festivals such as Merlefest, Rockygrass and Wintergrass and the calibre of musicianship at those festivals in extremely high.
Five albums to their name to date. The band are : On main vocals brother and sister Dave Holden and Louise Holden, Dave also playing acoustic guitar, Adrian Hart on fiddle, Konrad Liddy on upright double bass and Colin Derham on clawhammer banjo. A vast and varied soundscape covering traditional, old time, bluegrass , pop, jazz elements , Americana. It all gelled beautifully and was without doubt their own sound. Intelligent songs, great musicianship, vocals and banter and lovely people. What’s not to like. Not surprisingly no merch was left at the end of the night. I sincerely hope they are back at TLR soon.
Friday 28th October 2022
Photos by Keith Belcher
It was great to see an almost full house for this brilliant duo and they gave us a wonderful show.
Sunday 25th September 2022
Photos by Keith Belcher
The first visit of New Yorker, Annie Keating and her band to The Live Room was an absolute triumph. Her band – Joe Coombs, guitar; Scott Warman, basses; and Jamie Dawson, drums – supported Annie superbly, with a performance of skill, maturity and power that had the audience cheering wildly from the first number. Read a full review of the show by John Barlass of At The Barrier here.
11th September 2022
Words and photos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 11th September 2022, The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. A superb return performance by The Brother Brothers – Adam and David Moss , identical twins, raised in Peoria, Illinois. I heard comparisons to the Everly’s , Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel from several people throughout the night so that gives an idea of just how good they are.
Plus support The Silver Reserve
Thursday 25th August 2022
Photos and words by Keith Belcher
The very fabulous Della Mae making their long awaited debut at The Live Room, Saltaire. Originally scheduled for 2020 but something (???) threw a spanner in the works.
Truth to say they surpassed the expectations. I was fortunate enough to see their superb performances at Celtic Connections, Glasgow opening for The Milk Carton Kids and headlining their own show. Changes over the years but tonight’s line up was fiddle player Kimber Ludiker, lead vocalist/guitarist Celia Woodsmith, guitarist Avril Smith, bassist Vickie Vaughn. Mandolinist Maddie Witler didn’t make the trip this time around.
A high octane show from start to finish, serious amounts of energy generated, fair to say at the end there were people initially dancing in their seats but some just got up and danced. One of the most high-powered shows I’ve seen at TLR (and I’ve seen more than most people!).
Support act, Matthew Sturgess aka The Silver Reserve is rapidly gaining a good following with his superb, atmospheric shows. He had both the crowd and Della Mae who watched his entire show hanging on his every word and sound. A short but very sweet set, he’s due back to do more than open next March.
