The Live Room
The best all round roots music club in West Yorkshire
plus Mark Crotti
Sunday 23rd April 2023
Photos and video by Keith Belcher
The first visit of Australian, Mark Wilkinson (with fellow Aussie, Mark Crotti opening) to The Live Room after we discovered him at Americanafest, Nashville in 2022.
Some shots of support act, Mark Crotti
Sunday 16th April 2023
Review, photos and video by Keith Belcher
Bronwynne Brent Trio, The Live Room, Saltaire Sunday 16th April 2023. The opening night of the tour and it very nearly didn’t happen as there were passport problems, flight problems, weather problems . Apart from a very brief nap Bronwynne came directly from the airport, having spent the night before hoping she would be able to get here as her flight was cancelled.
For those that weren’t there Bronwynnes last gig at TLR was the last gig before lockdown on 15th March 2020 , we didn’t know what was going to happen over the following 2 years . Many had tickets and didn’t turn up for the show, there was a strange, poignant atmosphere, we just didn’t know what was going to happen. Bronwynne just about managed to get back to the States before the airlines stopped flying and countries doors closed, no vaccine in sight at that point , we just didn’t know!.
Logically with all the things that went wrong leading up to the gig it should have been a disaster. However most people don’t live in Bronwynne’s version of reality. On top of the problems Bronwynne hadn’t played with Graeme and Mario for several years Mario was in the Trio in 2020 but Graeme was last in the Trio in 2018’s tour (I went to 4 gigs).
They didn’t have time to rehearse. Doors were scheduled for 1830. The trio didn’t arrive at TLR until gone 1800. With all that the show actually started approaching 1930 as opposed to the scheduled 1900 . What we got was a gloriously wonderful display of music at it’s most live. Bronwynne wouldn’t actually know how to rehearse a story or well practiced lines anyway so she just did what she does best and went with the flow in her inimitable manner laughing throughout.
Mario and Graeme are both wonderful musicians and took this in their stride. That’s not to say there weren’t some off notes on occasions but when music is as live as this who cares? Set list was kind of vague and relied on comments like “you know this one don’t you?”, the version of After You’ve Gone was prefaced by “you must know this , it;’s a classic” and then a line or 2 were sung to refresh Mario and Graeme.
You don’t get any more live (or riskier) than this but it was glorious. I don’t think I am alone in thinking this was just a fabulous gig and totally summed up what live music is about.
Sunday 2nd April 2023
Review, photos and videos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 2nd April 2023. The much awaited visit of Mike and Ruthy, formerly here as The Mammals. This time with their son Will playing bass . Very much a family affair, daughter Opal was managing the merch desk as well as singing along throughout (you would have needed to be very near the front to hear her). Two superb sets of great songs, musicianship , harmonies and alternating vocals from Mike and Ruthy with some entertaining stories and humour throughout
The audience did their part too, rapt attentive listening and excellent backing vocals . Judging by reviews and comments at other gigs they have been going down a storm everywhere they have played. I know Hilary would have loved to have been there for this one but she was at a musical event in Vancouver (someone has to research these acts). Graham did the honours as MC and Joy helped out at the door leaving Ron to get the sound the Live Room is getting a great reputation for. A very popular gig, they will be back.
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 26th March 2023
Review & photos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 26th March 2023. The 5th visit of Chris Wood who, in my opinion, should be regaled as the Poet Laureate of Folk singer/Songwriters. An acute, astute observer and chronicler of what’s actually happening in the world at an intimate level to real families and folk, their intimate feelings, responses and behaviours. The last visit was 2020 just before you know what happened. Tonight, as well as old favourites, we heard many new and as yet unrecorded songs. Songs that are probably still untitled and may be still evolving before they reach the level that Chris is happy enough to let them free in the world.
Sunday 12th March 2023
Words, photos and videos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 12th March 2023, State of the Union, long time collaborators Brooks Williams and Boo Hewerdine appearing for the first time (together) at The Live Room at Saltaire and a cracking good sold out gig it was, good music and good humour aplenty.
Friday 17th February 2023
Photos & video by Keith Belcher, words by Keith Belcher & Mike Latham, review by Tony Charnock in Tyke’s Stirrings
Friday 17th February 2023, The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira accompanied by Miguel Girão. I knew we were in for a treat after the sound check which was utterly delightful and a pleasure to my tired old ears. The actual show was even better.. I’m going to unashamedly steal the text (see below) to a post by [Mike Latham] about Friday’s act.
“Another great debut at The Live Room in Saltaire. Two consummate musicians, Jocelyn Pettit from BC in Canada and Ellen Gira from near DC in the US held the audience spellbound on their first appearance at the venue.”
Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira Review
Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira with Miguel Girão at The Live Room,~ Saltaire 17th
February 2023
It was almost on a whim that I ventured out to the Live Room to see this, to me,
totally unknown act. Almost, but not quite: whomever Ron and Hilary are putting on
at this comfortable and welcoming venue, you can be confident that it will be top
quality. They have an unerring eye for talent in their globe-trotting quest for new acts
to bring to our part of the world, along with, of course, bigger and more well-known
names in the music world.
To say that these excellent musicians merely met that expectation would be a massive
understatement and do them a great injustice. Here were three performers who ticked
just about every box you can think of, providing a packed and appreciative audience
with an evening of sublime music-making, as Jocelyn on violin and Ellen on cello,
with Miguel’s deliberately understated and always sympathetic guitar
accompaniment, regaled us with melodies from many different lands, their
instruments sometimes blending sweetly, sometimes playing off each other. There
was a palpable bond between Jocelyn and Ellen as they scarcely took their eyes off
each other while they were playing: clearly enjoying what they were doing, an aspect
of their performance that easily transmitted itself to the audience.
So varied was the set that it’s hard to pick out any favourites. Tunes ranged from
traditional Irish, Scottish and Scandinavian, American Old Time, a medley from
Canada, while Jocelyn sang as sweet a version of Dougie MacLean’s “Ready for the
Storm” as you could hope for, and a wistful rendering together of “Across the
Western Ocean” with their delightful harmonies was another standout. They also
included their own material, including the title track of their CD “All It Brings”.
Jocelyn’s step dancing on stage was the luxury icing on an exceedingly nice cake.
This was indeed an international trio : Jocelyn is from Canada, Ellen from the U.S.
and Miguel from Portugal. Ellen and Miguel are currently based in Glasgow.
Jocelyn and Ellen are both constantly pursuing many other avenues separately in the
music world: this collaboration is only one of their many. Too many to even begin to
mention here: check out their websites:
http://www.jocelynandellen.com/; https://www.jocelynpettit.com/;
https://ellengira.com/
If this made in heaven duo ever come onto your radar, stop whatever you’re doing
and go to see them. They gave us a magical evening: you too will be spellbound.
Tony Charnock, Tykes Stirrings
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 29th January 2023
Photos by Keith Belcher
An evening of stunning songs, harmonies and musicianship from Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern plus their friend Jake Dawson. We’d seen them at Folk Alliance in Montreal a few years back but we were still taken aback by just how brilliant a live performance they give. Technically brilliant, but like all great artists, moving, challenging, engaging and entertaining. For our capacity crowd, this was an evening not to forget.
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.
