Oct 9 2022

Americanafest 2022

Here’s a selection of photographs from our recent trip to Americanafest in Nashville, including some of the acts that we really loved and will be trying to bring to TLR!

Hilary on first day!
Roberts Western World – the most famous honkytonk on Broadway!
Melissa Carper
William Prince
Alison Russell (twice at TLR with Birds of Chicago) and her band with guest Brandi Carlile
Rainbow Girls
Lori McKenna, featuring Mark Erelli, who did a great livestream for us during lockdown!
River Whyless
Janiva Magness
Willy Watson
Bella White
Alisa Amador
Oshima Brothers
Henry Wagons
Our own Lauren Housley at the Exit Inn – she went down a storm!
A who’s who of past artists at the Exit Inn!
The world famous Studio B in Music Row
Nashville Skyline – it’s changed a bit since Bob!
Great gumbo – ‘gator tails too if that’s your fancy!
Grimey’s Records – East Nashville
96 degrees on the pedestrian bridge across the Cumberland
The Gulch at night
Birthday girl on our last night!

Sep 28 2022

Annie Keating Band

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.

Live Video by Keith Belcher

Kindred Spirit & Road By 10

Sep 26 2022

The Brother Brothers

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.

Live Video by Keith Belcher

Angel Island song by Peter Rowan

Sep 5 2022

Jon Boden 2022

Friday 2nd September 2022

Photos by Keith Belcher

Another superb show by one of the UK’s great folk artists. Doing just a few solo shows between big tours with John Spiers and the upcoming return of Bellowhead, we were very lucky to get him. With a superb, soaring voice and fabulous skills on guitar, fiddle, concertina and stomp board, who needs a band when you have Jon Boden?! Many thanks to Keith Belcher for another set of brilliant photographs of the night.

Live Video by Keith Belcher

Rigs of the Times; We Do What We Can; Old Straight Track; and Walking Song

Aug 26 2022

Della Mae

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.

Live Video by Keith Belcher

Della Mae - Down To You

The Silver Reserve - Imogen

Aug 6 2022

The Chapin Sisters

Plus support The Ocelots

Thursday 4th August 2022

Photos by Keith Belcher

It was one of those magical nights here at TLR, with two lots of siblings in one show, not only sharing their lovely harmonies in their own sets, but also in an unrehearsed finale where they both took the stage to deliver a couple of covers for us, one and off-mic ‘Chiquitita’ by Abba! It was a wonderful evening.

Live Video by Keith Belcher

Chiquita (Abba cover!)

Aug 2 2022

Charm of Finches

Sunday 31st July 2022

Photos by Keith Belcher

This show had been two and a half years in the making, ever since we saw the girls showcase at the Folk Alliance Conference in New Orleans in January 2020. During lockdown they had performed a beautiful livestream for us from their home in Melbourne, Australia at what was for them an unearthly hour! We were thrilled to finally bring them to TLR in person and they never let us down, delivering a wonderful set of superb songs and ethereal harmonies. It was their final official show in the UK before flying back home later this week.

Special mention too for support act, Chris Brain from here in Yorkshire, with his own beautiful songs, singing and intricate guitar work. We’ll undoubtedly be seeing more of him in the future.

Live Videos by Keith Belcher

Gravity

As I Roved Out (TRAD)

Jul 28 2022

Errol Linton

Sunday 24th July 2022

Photos by Ron Pengelly

What a fantastic night we had with Errol and his band. Wonderful musicians, all at the top of their game, we were given an evening of classy, Chess era style blues with a good dose of old school reggae. Led by Errol with his smoky, soulful voice and superb harmonica playing, the band were in top form, featuring Lance Rose, bass; Petar Zivkovic, keys; Ritchey Green, guitar; and Garry Williams, drums. They even managed to get the audience on their feet and dancing at the end and received a deserved standing ovation as they left the stage. It won’t be too long before we see them return!

Jul 19 2022

Fellow Pynins

Friday 15th July 2022

Photos by Martin Lingard

It’s always heart warming when an artist exceeds your expectations and Friday was yet another example.

Oregon-based duo, Fellow Pynins – Dani Aubert, vocals, banjo and Bouzouki, and Ian George, vocals, guitar and mandolin – were quite simply outstanding. Playing a mix of their own compositions and traditional songs learned directly from other musicians from the UK and USA, they mesmerised the audience with their beautiful harmonies and exquisite playing. They were also very funny, telling stories of their travels and misadventures with a distinct eccentricity that had the crowd laughing throughout.

They were a really lovely couple, who won everyone over with their warmth. We will definitely not be leaving too long before bringing them back and we know they’ll have a much bigger crowd next time.

Thanks to Martin Lingard for the photos of the night in the absence of Keith Belcher, who is away for a couple of weeks.

Jul 8 2022

Black Feathers

Sunday 3rd July 2022

Photos and review by Keith Belcher

Sunday 3rd July 2022, The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. The return of The Black Feathers, husband and wife team, Sian Chandler and Ray Hughes. They first appeared at TLR as support for My Darling Clementine on 17th January 2014. They were so popular with the crowd that they headlined their own show with [Shaun Hutch] as support less than 8 months later on 22nd August 2014.

A long gap between then and their virtual appearance during lockdown on 15th November 2020. Possibly still jet lagged from a very successful US tour they wowed the TLR audience once again with their own blend of divine harmonies, musicianship and extremely skilled songwriting and a whole lot of stories and bonhomie. From their deeply felt opening song On The Road Again (not Canned Heat!) to their “cheery” cover of Joni’s Big Yellow Taxi they wowed the very appreciative crowd.

They called BYT cheery not me!, it was very upbeat though. Their encore of a beautiful song Moonlight was performed unamplified sitting on the stage edge. Please Ron and Hilary get them back soon although I know you meant to have them back sooner than this. Something got in the way…..On tour at the moment, catch them if you can.

Video by keith belcher

Black Feathers