The Live Room
The best all round roots music club in West Yorkshire
Sunday 2nd March 2025
Photos & videos by Keith Belcher
What a show we had from the ‘Queen of Oklahoma’ on Sunday night. Carter and her band were absolutey superb. She’s a great songwriter with a soulful voice and a magnetic stage presence. Her album, Gold, is not far from our turntable here at TLR central, you should grab a copy!
Opening for Carter is TLR favourite, Joe Martin, who we’re looking forward to seeing with his band and a new album here in 2026.
Sunday 2nd February 2025
Review, photos and videos by Keith Belcher
Lewis ‘Burner’ Pugh gave us a very strong opening set this evening. His songs particularly struck a chord with me because my dad was conscripted into the coal mines during the war and he also told me that he had demonstrated against Oswald Mosely. Lewis has strong song writing and performance skills. A very strong and strong performer. Good voice and guitar work too. I wouldn’t mind seeing him given his own TLR show.
Yes, Lewis had a very impressive voice and another great guitarist. Loved his songs with the mix of his own and from other, older writers. His own writings reminded me of how people used to get the news of local events from the ‘broadsheets’ or ‘broadsides’, in that he related stories of disaster, murder and retribution or communities rising against those con artists who most definitely didn’t have their best interests at heart. All done with a very human aspect.
Ron and Hilary at The Live Room have wanted Parker at Saltaire for a long time. He didn’t disappoint. A solo show, one man, one guitar, a great bunch of songs and a fantastic voice. He was pleased to announce that his shows so far, had all been sell outs. He’d travelled down from Edinburgh , going the scenic route and seeing many multi coloured sheep en route which intrigued him. Far better than branding as they do in the States , he said. His songs are very observant and heartfelt. His diction while either talking or singing is crystal clear. Its a real asset for a songwriter. A lot of the crowd were attending TLR for the first time. He had drawn people in from far and wide and stating it again , he didn’t disappoint. I would say everyone left feeling very satisfied, nay , very happy.
There was a couple sitting next to my videoing perch who obviously knew his music far better than I did. From the oohs and aahs they were in raptures throughout the show and I guess this was a feeling shared by many in the audience. When he sang Palisade towards the end of the show they upped and did a slow dance, oblivious to the room.
Great guitar work and a truly passionate soulful voice which could go from zero on the scale to 11 (in true Spinal Tap fashion). He opened the show with Your Water, a song he has duetted with the great Sarah Jarosz . He has extremely good taste in his female collaborators . On his new album he also duets with the very wonderful Gillian Welch on the title track, Wilderness Within You. The songs were old and new, soft and powerful, ranging from his first album Palisade to the latest, Wilderness Within You, there was also a superb Van the Man cover as well. He finished with a new , as yet unreleased song , Before The Curtain Closes .
This was a truly great show by a magnificent singer, writer and performer. I’d love to spend far more time reviewing to do it justice but take my word for it , go and see him and you won’t be disappointed. There was a serious queue for merch and many, many requests for photos with Parker. It would be fair to say that the TLR crowd would really like him to return.
Sunday 8th December 2024
Photos by Richard Leach
We don’t normally repeat shows year on year, but we made an exception with this one, as it’s such a brilliant and heartwarming Christmas show and a lovely way to end the year. The stage was suitably garlanded, the Christmas tree and lights up, sherry, prosecco, chocolates and mince pies out and the room full; we couldn’t have asked for more. Except for great music, which is exactly what we got from this wonderful quintet of superb musicians and singers. By the time the last few bars were played, everyone had sung their hearts out, enjoyed the munchies and were ready to wend their way home with a smile on their faces. Merry Christmas everyone!
Sunday 1st December 2024
Review, photos and videos by Keith Belcher
Sunday 1st December 2024. The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. Another TLR debut, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas graced the stage of The Live Room. The definition of graced being: “bring honour or credit to (someone or something) by one’s attendance or participation”.
We were certainly honoured by their presence and performance. They’ve been playing together for 25 years and it certainly shows in the best possible ways. Both were obviously virtuosos on their instruments but their mutual understanding, timing, phrasing was instinctively (seemingly) effortless.
Of the numerous comments on WhatsApp Eric possibly summed it up best: “Another stunner! This has to be the best year of TLR so far . So many great shows! Alasdair and Natalie are up there with the best. Many thanks to Hilary and Ron who are also great stars!”
Mike said: “The combination of both instruments was absolutely superb. It was often difficult to hear which was leading or which supporting as Alasdair and Natalie meshed them so closely together. Did I mention that it was superb?”
Sunday 24th November 2024
Photos by Nigel Plant
It was the third visit of the Madrid-based quartet to TLR and their biggest crowd to date. In fact, the band said it was their biggest crowd – as a stand alone act – of their career! They have been building a reputation for their live shows over the past few years and they never leave an audience without huge smiles on their faces. Tonight was no different as they delivered another fabulous performance of their rootsy blend of folk, Americana, Latin rhythms and friendly air of chaos – a great night!
Friday 15th November 2024
Review, photos and video by Keith Belcher
Friday 15th November 2024. A rare Friday gig at TLR from Hannah James and cellist Toby Kuhn but what a gig!! I’m not going to say much about it. At the end of the gig after stopping the video recording I turned to Ron at the sound desk and said “that was just beautiful”, Ron nodded in complete agreement. It was superb. If you weren’t there , check them out.
Comments on WhatsApp included:
“A very different show which was a complete delight. Hannah James and Toby Kuhn wove a spell with their wonderful playing and songs…..One of the best gigs of the year in my opinion”
“Well, what a fantastic gig it was tonight. It will take me a few days to process and absorb it all….Overall their set gave me a feeling of warmth towards humanity and we need that”
AND….if , like me, you love the cello, we have another real treat coming up in a real scoop for TLR when Natalie Haas and Alasdair Fraser grace the Live Room stage on 1st December. That really is not to be missed. Track Dogs also make their third appearance on November 24th.
A few shots of the night. To be honest I felt a little churlish to be taking photographs and disturbing anyone’s enjoyment so I cut the photography a bit short..
Sunday 3rd November 2024
Photos, videos and review by Keith Belcher
The long awaited, overdue visit of Stephen Fearing. It was worth the wait. Born in Vancouver in 1963, he moved at six years old with his mother to Dublin, his schoolmates included future members of U2. He is now based again in Canada.
Judging from the number of requests from the audience he had brought along a small army of dedicated followers. A really superb night, great songwriting, humour, storytelling and exceptional guitar work. I can’t really say much more other than I am also going to the sold out Filey show tonight (4th November) AND I’ve managed to travel to Filey and also done the shots.
Sound was superb (as usual), the lighting (not as usual) was also great. I really hope the next visit is next year when his new album should be available. A very satisfied and happy crowd went home in a great mood to start the coming week.
Sunday 20th October 2024
Review, photos and video by Keith Belcher
A double header of Amanda Rheaume (Canada) & Kyler Tapscott (Canada) and Hannah Scott (Suffolk)and Dave Banks (Bedford) In all honesty , not one of the best attended gigs at TLR BUT those extremely happy attendees who were there were VERY glad they attended.
A bit of a mixed audience in that there were those who had never heard of either act (but trusted Ron & Hilary’s judgement and taste) and those who had driven huge distances to follow the artists. So many people came up to Ron and Hilary at the end to just say how much they had loved the show.
Both acts were superb. The musicianship was superb, the storytelling sublime and concise and extremely personal. Great introductions to all the songs. The only thing wrong was that time didn’t allow us to hear more of each act. Perhaps in the future ……
Sunday 13th October 2024
Photos & Video by Keith Belcher
It was a sparkling evening with Rob and the band on their second visit here, this time with their new album, Feet First. A great night of honky tonk, Western Swing, old school rock & roll and country. Rob is a sharp and very funny songwriter.
Sunday 6th October 2024
Photos and video by Keith Belcher, review by Mike Latham
Well, that was interesting. I think that I should have paid more attention to the information supplied when the concert was announced. The first two tunes, to me, followed the usual pattern of tunes and then, subsequent ones went in different directions whilst remaining true to the original themes. I thought, ‘Hmm, a bit of experimentation going on’; then Owen referred to the experimentations that Louis performed in his other guitar duo. The penny dropped.
I have recently read the Robin Denselow update of ‘The Electric Muse’ where he looks at the developments within ‘folk music’ in the latter half of the last century and in to the current period. He was emphasising the changes and experimentation carried out by Davy Graham and Shirley Collins, Fairport and Steeleye, The Incredible String Band and Pentagle. All used the songs and tunes from the past and updated them to attract new listeners and that process continues through Bellowhead, The Imagined Village and Lankum.
We have seen Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, The Paul McKenna Band and now Owen and Louis using those self same tunes and creating their own interpretation of broadside and parlour songs, folk songs and dance tunes. Each taking the popular tunes and songs of the past and putting them into a contemporary context, proving that ‘folk music’ is not a thing of the past but a living, continuous strand of people’s lives.
Last comment; I have found the musicianship and dedication of the younger performers we are seeing more recently to be truly astonishing. Owen and Louis were no different, a wonderful duo.
