Gig Review - A Country Night In Nashville - Alexandra Theatre Birmingham

 

A theatre trip for us on Saturday, rather than a “normal” gig venue.  We walked into a theatre in Birmingham but took our seats in a Nashville Honky Tonk – “Crazy Joe’s Live Lounge”.  As the rest of the audience took their seats a few were caught out as the lights began to flash across the stage, building anticipation. In the background 'The Devil went down to Georgia' could be heard, on walked the band (Drums, Keys, Guitar and Bass) to play along. 

Wait who is this under the single spotlight, a glittery gold sensation singing a haunting, acoustic version of Jolene? 

The show has only just begun and the audience are already singing along. A short chorus later, the song shifts to 'Ring of Fire' and Dominic Halpin enters the stage looking every bit a Country singer, there is something Johnny Cash about the all black outfit but somehow there’s something more.   

Dominic introduces himself and Matt the guitarist. Dominic checked how many of the audience have been to Nashville, but not to worry – if you haven’t, let yourself be transported to The Crazy Joe's Live Lounge. The cheap gags (fitting for the scene) start straight away with asking Matt about line dancing and him being a Morris dancer, complete with waving around his bandana, smoothly leading in to a Dwight Yoakam hit.

A Country Night In Nashville, although comprising (of course) covers, is far more than a covers show.  It is a tribute to the music of Nashville, and with its themed backdrops, lighting show and sheer energy it is a full-on theatrical experience.  The links between songs, the stories of stars of country music, the anecdotes about songs and the jokes with the band and the audience all add up to make the show what it is.  More than all of that though is the band, each member an accomplished performer in their own right, most of them songwriters too.

 

Fronting the band is Dominic Halpin, who is also the creator of the show.  Dominic, in his own words, lives and breathes music and was raised on some of the greats, which gives some of the history to the night, with songs spanning many decades.  Dominic is a born performer, an entertainer from the old school.  His passion shows with every song and his voice is just perfect for the range of music performed, easily singing the Country Standards, 50s Rock n Roll and even a short burst of Frank Sinatra.  Despite it being his name on the drum kit, when one of the others is taking centre stage, Dominic happily takes a step back to be “just” one of the musicians.

 

The lead, and the limelight, is shared – principally with vocalist Shelly Quarmby.  An accomplished singer in her own right, with albums under her own name, Shelly has a stunning voice that wouldn’t be out of place in the West End.  Whether taking the lead, effortlessly harmonising or joining Dominic for a duet Shelly keeps up with high energy dancing around, very much in the style of June Carter Cash. This comparison was very much cemented in the second half when she sang the role of June in a Cash medley.

 

The band is split four men and two ladies, and after a big start to the evening with Dwight Yoakam, Alan Jackson, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson, the gents leave the stage to make way for Shelley and Donna Marie to have a few songs to themselves. 

 

Donna Marie is a familiar face to us, having most recently appeared on the Paddock Stage at Buckle and Boots as part of the Songs and Stories Collective, as well as being featured on our review pages with her singles.  In addition to playing her trademark big acoustic guitar she provides keys to this show as well as incredible backing vocals and a couple of solo numbers.  Shelly and Donna combined beautifully, ending with a rendition of The Chicks’ Travelling soldier accompanied by drummer Jono Price on side drum which added extra emotion to the performance, emotion which is reflected in Shelly's face

 

Jono sits at the back on his drum kit (apart from his cameo with the girls) and not only keeps time for the band, but plays in the traditional Country style and joins in with the skits and gags throughout the show.

 

Joining Jono in keeping the bassline thumping is  Ben Wiltshire, alternating between electric bass and stand-up bass – plus backing vocals!

 

There is an easy camaraderie between Dominic and the band – the boys also play together as Dominic Halpin and the Honeybees – and this is easy to see in the joking around, especially with lead guitarist Matt Wells who is the butt of many jokes, including being called the “creepy old uncle” when touchingly referring to the band as being “like family”.  Matt doesn’t just provide some incredible guitar playing – he also plays haunting lap steel, slide guitar using a beer bottle that is then thrown off stage and even broke out a banjo – which resulted in duelling banjos between him and Dominic (on guitar) to round off the first half.

 

The second half opens with Johnny Cash and everyone swinging their instruments – even Ben with his double bass! Dominic explains the notes he played could fit into any tune and we are treated to a little ditty from Dominic, who is looking for a woman with big hands.  He explains they are all songwriters and we get a rendition of his own song Fire & Smoke. 

 

The extra comedy, skits and instrumental breaks elevate this show – rather than just exiting stage to allow for a solo Dominic challenges the band to keep up with his random choices of songs, resulting in a walk out rather than take on Justin Beiber!  The solo was Dominic playing a tribute to Buddy Holly – and it was spot on! A different transition as Dominic exited stage left while Shelly walked on stage right, sat down at the keyboard and sang a fantastic solo “Girl Crush”.  Is there no end to her talents?

 

As the band come back on, we are clearly in party mode, with more modern songs dropping in, banter with the audience and Donna Marie offering herself for selection as a “redneck” to song an energetic “Red Neck Woman” showing her own performance skills, despite her telling us later that she is very shy!  Coming out from behind the keyboard means she can show off her tassled red boots, rivalling Shelly's sparkles!

 

A Kacey Musgraves number gets the crowd singing and clapping, and then a full party set takes us all the way through with the whole audience on their feet and dancing in the aisles – 9 to 5, Jolene, Dance the Night Away, Wagon Wheel all going down well and accompanied by a thousand voices.

Make no mistake, this isn’t “just another covers show” – it’s a tribute show featuring a band of highly talented musicians who would be at home on any stage performing a very well written show centred around a carefully chosen mix of music.

image courtesy of Handshake Ltd

 A Country Night In Nashville is rightly filling theatres up and down the country, playing to thousands of music fans every week.  Hearing the comments at the meet and greet afterwards proves that this show will run and run, a stand-out among the tribute shows – in fact a stand-out among all shows

Silverball Country attended A Country Night In Nashville as guests of Handshake Limited

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Gig Review - Country In The Afternoon - Half Moon Putney

 

Take an iconic venue, add in some touring artists, mix with the Chittick’s unerring ability to curate a line up and the result is another stunning Country In The Afternoon.

 

If you haven’t yet sampled a CITA, its basically a mini festival over two days.  Taking place at the Half Moon Pub in Putney, which has played host to a long list of legends over the years, you get to see four acts per day, starting at 1 and finishing at 5, in time to sample the fabulous food that the pub has to offer.  Each day has a great line up, so you can do either day or both and still have a great time.  Although the weekend attracts in excess of 300 people over the two days in comfort, it still feels like an intimate gig, with many of the artists opting to play an acoustic or stripped-down set.

Following on so closely after Buckle and Boots Festival, there was a chance to see some of the touring artists who played in Manchester, and this weekend saw a Saturday line up of Matt Wynn, Jessie G, and Australia’s Josh Setterfield (who all played the main stage), headlined by Alyssa Bonagura while on Sunday headliner Aaron Goodvin from Canada was joined by Eleri Angharad (who played the Paddock stage) plus Simon James and James Riley.  We attended on Sunday, fighting our way through tube closures to make it to a sunny corner of South West London.

 

The theme of Sunday was very much about telling stories – it was as much about the stories as the music.  Eleri Angharad was up first and set the tone.  Her style of gently strumming her guitar while she talks is very soothing and keeps a link between words and songs.  She played her fabulous new single Good For A Girl, and ended with a great rendition of These Boots Were Made For Walking which really got the crowd singing along and pumped for the rest of the day.  She was also wearing good boots!

Simon James hasn’t been around much recently, but he’s back and with the promise of a new album.  If anything, his voice has matured, and it’s a voice that we have really missed.  When Simon sings he transports the audience and himself to a different place.  You can see this in Simon because either his eyes are closed or he’s staring out into the distance.  Speaking to Simon after the show he confirmed he is often not on that stage.  Simon loves to talk between songs and even shifted his set list around to accommodate the time he had taken!

James Riley was not familiar to us but is an artist that as soon as Gavin and Christine heard him play at a showcase event, they knew they wanted to bring him to Country In The Afternoon.  Playing acoustic guitar and accompanied by a stand-up bass and a fiddle player, James is on the folk side of country but very much in the story telling tradition.  He spent lockdown playing roof top concerts in his own neighbourhood earning him a slot on local tv news, and took himself off to a remote part of the Kent coast to write his newest songs, all influenced by his view out across the sea.  The attention he received for his rooftop series means that James will be spending part of his summer playing at Glastonbury.

Sunday’s headliner Aaron Goodvin has been on a mini tour of the UK having flown over for Buckle and Boots.  As he demonstrated in a songwriters round on the Paddock Stage, Aaron is a natural storyteller, even stopping mid song to tell a story.  It’s a clever technique that grabs your attention and keeps you laughing!  His start in the music industry came when his mother bought a Karaoke machine for the family and then entered Aaron in a contest at the local mall where he came second, winning $200 dollars which he instantly spent on golf clubs.  This was clearly the dream life for him – singing and earning – and the rest is history!  Supported and heckled in equal parts by Matt Wynn and Jessie G, the pair then joined Aaron on stage for an impromptu rendition of Tennessee Whisky which they had previously performed to support Electric Umbrella – a children’s charity in Hertfordshire.  

This collab was completely unexpected and one of the best we have ever seen. Already a big star in Canada, Aaron would like to cultivate a “sexy image” in the UK, rather than the Kermit comparisons from a comment on the tour.  There followed a few passable Kermit impressions which added to the general light-hearted approach Aaron took to his set, delivering a personal, intimate, powerful and hugely entertaining show before joining us all outside in the sunshine.

 

We have worked with Gavin and Christine Chittick at a number of festivals, so we know how hard working they are and how very welcoming too.  They have a real talent for finding artists who will work well in the Country In The Afternoon format as well as the Millport Festivals that they put on, and while Millport is taking a break we know that they will continue to promote great music and introduce us to new artists.  Country In The Afternoon allows for music, meeting up with friends and the chance for us to really appreciate the artists we may have missed while working at festivals, all in relaxed surroundings.

 

See you in November!

Silverball Country attended Country In The Afternoon as guests of Cumbrae Promotions

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