Artiste and Gig Review - Kezia Gill

Hailing from Mid England rather than the Mid West, Kezia Gill has a voice that was made to sing, and made to sing Country, with that gorgeous and effortless vibrato or “Country Warble”

I first saw Kezia at the BCMA awards on a big stage in a vast auditorium, so seeing her performing in the very intimate Kitchen Garden was a real treat for me.  The setting also allows you t see the look of concentration on the faces of all the performers while they sing – and the genuine smile of appreciation for the applause at the end

Kezia’s first song was a title before it was a song – and was essentially a song about writing a song “Love Song”

Second song “The Road” was introduced with a story of how hard Kezia had been working – as many people do, while wondering whether you should in fact give up, before an email from Buckle and Boots followed by a performance at the festival catapulted her career – something else we should thank the Hancock family for! The song has a powerful “woah woah” chorus (how DO you spell that?) that all the other artistes couldn't help but join in with!

With the banter theme of the evening being age, Kezia’s new single “Thirties” was incredibly apt.  It’s a lament – almost a moan – about turning thirty and leaving her twenties.  This song particularly highlights that Kezia is very much a storyteller in the time-honoured Country style

As the night went on, Kezia’s contribution just got better and better.  Telling us how her Dad was her inspiration to sing, she related how he was a singer in the local clubs, as the song itself says “a working class hero, a local singing star” the song is brilliantly titled “Local Man Star”  I’ve been promised an advance copy of this – in fact I begged for it because I have never heard a song that I am so desperate to write a review of (I’m holding you to that Kezia!)

The song is so evocative, in the style of an older Northern Folk Song, that when you listen to it you can see him, on stage at the local club, slash curtain backdrop raffle halfway through and a mirror ball for atmosphere as though you are watching a grainy cine film or old VHS recording. It is no lie to tell you that audience members were tearing up, and my neighbour felt compelled at that moment to text her own dad!

Sticking with the theme of inspirations and influences we heard the story of buying cassette tapes at the market and Kezia’s dad buying her a tape featuring Patsy Cline singing “Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray” which a six year old Kezia learned to sing, despite it not being exactly suitable for her age.  When Kezia sang Patsy Cline, she sounded more Like Patsy than Patsy does.  A stunning vocal which knocked the room sideways

Johnny Cash was also an influence, as he is all about rebelling – and Kezia’s tattooed arms are a testament perhaps to her own form of rebellion.  Possibly the only thing better about writing a tribute song to Johnny Cash called, appropriately “Mr Cash” is to perform it at the Cash Bash, backed by his original drummer – and it is a very fitting tribute to the Man In Black

Even if you just base your opinion on last night’s performance, it is easy to see why Kezia Gill won the People’s Choice award at the BCMA Awards 2018 for “Best Solo”, and her next single will not only be eagerly anticipated but is probably already in the running for single of the year!

Catch Kezia in all the usual places and at KeziaGill.com