Thanks to everyone who came to last night’s Loudhailer Acoustic. An eclectic mix of fabulous music and home baking (strawberry sponge, butterfly buns, sun dried tomato and cheese scones, pesto swirls and fig and date rolls) made for a top night again. We enjoyed welcoming regular and new guests and a fabulous audience as ever.
Castleford’s Captain Chris Scarlett’s trio of infectious feel good songs was full of the joy of life and Yorkshire. We love his beautifully descriptive songwriting and easy style, always a real treat.
Captivating Transylvanian Jazz singer Edina Molnar came straight from an International Women’s Day concert and sang a beautiful unaccompanied set of classics including All of me, and Fly Me to the Moon. A really lovely performance.
We were over the moon to welcome The Virtual Cowboys who played a fabulous set of their mostly (but not always) American influenced songs. Part of the Hornsea Massive secret celebrity cult, it was fabulous to hear Virtual Cowboy Chris Brown – ex Johnny Solo guitarist (I’m sure we’ve spoken about favourite song Fluff on the Needle here before now) playing his 1938 Cromwell arch-top – so cool. We loved singer/writer Marvin Close’s imagery in ‘Robert Wyatt’s Laughing’ and the country lilt of ‘Sometimes Suzy Never Comes Home’.
Back to Loudhailer Acoustic for the second time, Jim Orwin sang three of his own stunning songs. His opener – a story and love and drugs – was a real highlight, fabulous smooth vocals and such a well crafted song.
We’ve been enjoying listening to Dick Appleton’s excellent latest album this week and he opened his set with the fine picked guitar of the title track ‘A lot to answer for’. Next up a poignant song of World War II featured a beautifully simple and haunting bouzouki riff before closing his set with the battling bouzouki style ‘Two Shots to Roger’, great stuff.
We went to Jeff Parsons’ final Reaction gig last week, and have been listening to his new band The Dark Secrets CD (fave track at the moment, The Space Age, yeah!) but it was cool to hear his acoustic songs again tonight, thought provoking as ever.
Karl Oakes was on top form last night. Can’t wait to hear his Invisibles gig at the Loudhailer Electric launch later this month, with Graham Brady and Craig Tamminen on guitar and drums. I know Karl’s opener tonight ‘Here She Comes’ features in the set… come along and find out what else is in store…
Graham Beck’s grand finale last night featured a new multi function (Cramaha) keyboard and a highly entertaining trio of fantastic and dramatically delivered tunes. I really feel like I have seen the very best of Great Yarmouth’s House of Wax now, the very best.
It sure was another roller coaster of a session! Thanks to everyone who came to play and to Elaine, Maria, Irene and Bev for fab baking. The next Loudhailer Acoustic session is Saturday April 12th, but don’t forget, it’s the Loudhailer Electric launch at the Adelphi on Thursday 27th March, come and join us there! Details here Loudhailer Electric
Rich took these ace portraits, click on a photo to enlarge and scroll through…
