Girls Night In The Round

Venue:

Bush Hall, London

Date: 12/02/2024

This was very much an accidental gig. A friend wanted to go to some live music while his wife was away for a few days, but couldn’t find anything. I searched and found this gig and suggested it.
What a wonderful piece of serendipity!
I’d seen Demi Marriner supporting Sam Outlaw a few years back and vaguely knew of Kezia Gill from Bob Harris programmes, but neither Jade Helliwell nor Jess Thristan meant anything to me.
The four of them are best mates, all originally from Yorkshire. This is their second tour.
It’s a simple format – each one plays a song in turn – sometimes completely solo, while other songs have harmonies and backing vocals or guitar embellishments. There are themes for each round of songs, which are fairly loose.
The great thing is that they are having such a blast onstage, performing together, and it’s contagious. Their joy and enthusiasm fills the room and considering that there was only song that I knew in the whole evening – their drastic and marvellous rearrangement of Jolene which closed the first set – it’s a testament to their craft and musical abilities that I was never once bored.
It’s a short tour. They are in Birmingham tonight (Tuesday 13th), Liverpool tomorrow, then Glasgow, Gateshead and Leeds.
I’d love to be at the Leeds gig, as I can imagine the shared euphoria at their homecoming gig. It will generate enough electricity to light up the whole county.
If they are in your area and you love country-ish music do go and see them. I am sure you won’t regret it.

The audience:

A range of 17 to 70 with as many women as men.

It made me think..

There is a very deep well of talent in this country and you don’t have to go to a gig hoping to hear the songs you already know.
I am so pleased my friend’s wife went away for a while, because if she hadn’t I would have missed this.

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