Sunday 8th September 2024
Photos by Nigel Plant
India Electric Company
Tag: Caroline Street Social Club
Kristian Bush
Sunday 1st September 2024
Photos & video by Keith Belcher
We were very lucky to secure the services of this multi-platinum selling, Grammy Award-winning artist here at TLR, and we weren’t disappointed, as Kristian, accompanied by his brother Brandon on keyboards, gave us a sparkling show, full of warmth and great songs. Another award winning artist, Jeff Cohen, opened the show and gave a very engaging performance that had the audience laughing. It was a mark of how popular the show was that we’ve rarely seen such a queue at the merch desk after the show!
videos by keith belcher
Jeff Cohen: Hey Love
Kristian Bush: A Different Way To Get There
Kristian Bush: All I Wanna Do
Kristian Bush: Giving It Up
Andrew Combs
Sunday 25th August 2024
Photos, video by Keith Belcher; show comments from Kevin Thomas
We’d been chasing Andrew since about 2018 when we discovered him at Americanafest in Nashville, so we were very excited to bring this wonderfully talented singer songwriter to The Live Room for the first time. With a new record just released, Dream Pictures, Andrew was on a tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe. He was supported by Bradford Americana singer songwriter, Chris Dover.
Andrew Combs was a revelation to me. An excellent musician, very calm, composed and insightful. I really like his songs, delivered with a relaxed style that grows on you as the night proceeds. His modest, no bullshit patter is not typically American, another plus. The long queue to buy his albums at the end showed I was not the only one impressed. – Kevin Thomas
videos by keith belcher
Chris Dover: Whiskeyhead
Chris Dover: Sweet Angeline
Andrew Combs:Eventide
Andrew Combs: Too Stoned To Cry
Andrew Combs: Better Way
Northern Resonance
Sunday 4th August 2024
Review, photos & videos by Keith Belcher
The debut appearance at TLR and also the first UK tour of Sweden’s Northern Resonance. A string trio of Anna Ekborg playing viola d’amore, Jerker Hans-Ers playing hardanger fiddles and Petrus Dillner playing nyckelharpa, a previously untested combination of instruments. During the sets interval they had been asked many questions about their instruments. They gave a brief explanation of their instruments and also Nordic culture (tongue in cheek!). If you weren’t there you missed a truly delightful instrumental concert.
videos by keith belcher
Rauland's Reinlender
Route 83
Errol Linton 2024
Friday 26th July 2024
Photos and review by Ron Pengelly, video by Keith Belcher
Roof raising show on Friday night from Errol Linton and his fantastic band. Tracks from the new album Break the Seal, and a great mix of blues, reggae and New Orleans influences from: Errol on vocals and harmonica, Lance Rose bass, Petar Zivkovic piano, Richey Green guitar and Gary Williams drums. And a great DJ set from Andy Nicholls to set the groove and keep it going through the break.
Think the band enjoyed it as much as we did. Fantastic show.
videos by Keith Belcher
Cry To Me
Love Gone Cold; Bo Did It
Grupo Lokito
Sunday 14th July 2024
Photos by Ron Pengelly
The sensational 8-piece Grupo Lokito made their TLR debut, featuring musicians from The Congo, Cuba and the UK. They also managed to get the whole room up dancing!
Jon Gomm
Sunday 7th July 2024
Photos & videos by Keith Belcher
We’d been chasing Jon for several years, despite the fact that he lives right here in Saltaire! One of the difficulties is that he’s so busy touring the world, performing and doing demonstrations (his latest trip was to China, just a few days after this show) that he’s rarely around long enough to organise a show.
videos by keith belcher
Weather Machine
Ain't Nobody (Chaka Khan & Rufus)
Mark Radcliffe & Dave Boardman/Weeping Willows Double Bill
Sunday 30th June 2024
Photos, video and review by Keith Belcher
Sunday 30th June 2024. The Live Room, Saltaire. A double header of two debutantes to TLR. From Australia, The Weeping Willows (not to be confused with Weeping Willows- a Swedish band ) and Boltons own Mark Radcliffe with Knutsford resident David Boardman.
The Weeping Willows are Australians Andrew Wrigglesworth (guitar, lead vocals) and Laura Coates (lead vocals, accordion and tambourine). Currently resident in Melbourne. Ron and Hilary “discovered” The Weeping Willows on one of their Nashville visits, meeting up with them again in Kansas (the pandemic came between the visits I think). The usual good taste in bringing these two musicians to TLR. It took a while but happened eventually.
There was the little matter of a football match on Sunday night but the gig was sold out regardless. On Monday I saw a gig cancellation at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton ( Jon Palmer Acoustic Band) for this Saturday (July 6th). The reason for the cancellation “EVENT POSTPONED DUE TO UNFORESEEN FOOTBALL”. On Sunday there were a few who crept in at 8pm after the travesty had reached its conclusion. They would have missed the best part of The Weeping Willows but probably caught up with their sleep during the football.
The Weeping Willows opened a really tremendous night of high quality entertainment. I was not familiar with Andrew and Laura’s music before the night. I was very impressed. Their opening song “River Of Gold” reminded me greatly of The Civil Wars (remember them, a meteoric rise and similar crash but absolutely phenomenal on stage – I saw them twice), Andrew’s very accomplished guitar and Laura’s tremendous voice create a very large sound for 2 people. They had that same power and presence on stage. Andrew took lead on several songs and they combined their voices beautifully. On another song, “Singin’ The Blues”, I was reminded of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (who I adore) with homage to Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.
They covered a vast range of musical genres, Americana , Southern Gothic, obviously but a touch of bluegrass, some blues , some rock, uptempo and ballads. In just under an hour they crammed a lot of music in as well as getting the audience to check the footie scores . They left the stage to serious applause . They returned during Mark’s set to help with “Out On The Shore”. After the show they posted that they couldn’t stop smiling . They were not alone. It was one of those evening where everyone went home smiling, even the football supporters. Let’s have them back for a full show please.
Continuing with the action on 30th June 2024. Mark Radcliffe and David Boardman took the stage following The Weeping Willows. At times you may have thought you had come to a comedy night. There were lots of very funny stories mixed in with the largely self penned songs mainly about the North of England.
videos by keith belcher
Bells Are Ringing In The Churchyard
Singin' The Blues
First Light
Steal The Sea
Dean Owens & The Sinners
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.
Slambovian Circus of Dreams
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.
