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.
Gilmore & Roberts 2022
Tag: The Live Room
Lau Unplugged
Wednesday 19th October 2022
Photos by Keith Belcher
They finally made it! After three (or was it four?!) postponements owing to the Covid pandemic, the mighty Lau made it to Saltaire. And boy, was it worth it! Divided into two sets, the first consisted of the boys in conventional, three across the front of stage mode, to deliver their own ‘support set’ as Martin put it, and they sounded superb.
However, the second set really set the senses alive, with the band stringing together a ‘retrospective suite’ of songs and tunes that segued into one another and lasted for over an hour. Not only that, but they moved between various microphones, used an old cassette player and even used some home made digital samplers to create an audio ‘semaphore’ display! It really was an astonishing performance of innovation, slight madness and utter beauty. They are truly unique.
Video by Keith Belcher
Noltland Castle and Midnight Feast by Lal Waterson
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
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
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!)
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)
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!
Darden Smith
Thursday 23rd June 2022
Photos by Keith Belcher
We had a lovely evening on Thursday 23rd with Texan troubadour, Darden Smith giving us a terrific evening of songs, storytelling and poetry, evoking the wide open spaces of the American plains. He’s such an engaging performer. His latest record, Western Skies, of which we availed ourselves of a copy, is a beauty too, grab a copy!
Video by keith belcher
Miles Between; running out of time
Willy Porter
plus support Rebecca Loebe
Friday 20th May 2022
Photos by Keith Belcher
We were surprised and thrilled to have a late addition to the bill for Willy’s first show here in the shape of Austin-based singer songwriter Rebecca Loebe, who is on tour in the UK and had a gap in her diary. She shares a booking agent with Willy and decided to come along to see him as she was in the area for a gig in Queensbury the following night. Things couldn’t have worked out better and the two even managed to rehearse a couple of numbers for the encore. Another wonderful night at TLR!
Outside Track 2022
Sunday 15th May 2022
Words and photos by Keith Belcher
The Outside Track is:
Isla Ratcliff – fiddle, vocals (Scotland)
Fiona Black – accordion, vocals (Scotland)
Teresa Horgan – flute, lead vocals (Ireland)
Seán Gray- guitar, vocals (Scotland)
Ailie Robertson – Gaelic harp, vocals (Scotland)
