Danni Nicholls - Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham - 26th October 2021

Sometimes, the right gig comes along at just the right time.

Following a busy few weeks and with the winter drawing in, what was badly needed was an evening to uplift. A time to just sit back and enjoy music in the organic way that a venue like the Kitchen Garden and an artist like Danni Nicholls can combine to so wonderfully provide.

Danni mentioned that having recently returned from a trip to the States, she may have still been feeling the effects of jet lag. This was however in no way reflected in the quality of the performance which was top drawer as usual. The musical fruits from the aforementioned American trip were teased with the playing of a brand new song which was excellent and will be part of a forthcoming release which will be something to look forward to.

A double headline set with no support was an unexpected treat and the two sets of roughly fifty minutes each featured a lovely mix of newer and older songs. This performance just whet the appetite for the re-arranged gig at the fabulous Milton Keynes Stables next year. This and the promise of new music will be a shining light of 2022 I'm sure.

Danni Nicholls is an artist who is fully immersed in every song she performs. This is evident in her quintessential pose of eyes closed, feeling every song and note. 

The Kitchen Garden continues to put on some wonderful evenings of music. These type of gigs are more what I'm leaning towards these days. What better than such a wonderfully intimate setting for some live music? It certainly beats paying hundreds of pounds to squint up at an artist on a big screen, whilst sat miles away from the performance. 

Find out more about Danni at her website : https://www.danninicholls.com/

Jenny Colquitt - Brindley Theatre, Runcorn - 15th October 2021

15th October 2021 feels like it will go down as a significant date in the history of my live music attendance.

 

One of the silver linings from the cloud of the last couple of years has been my discovery of the music of Jenny Colquitt. Jenny is a wonderfully gifted singer songwriter from Widnes in the top left corner of Cheshire. I was wowed by her voice the very first time I heard it and I became an instant fan. Jenny has released two EP albums to date and her debut full length album is out in November, something I am very much looking forward to.

I just knew that I would have to see Jenny live at the first chance I got and her “home” gig across the river in Runcorn seemed like the perfect choice. The Brindley Theatre is an excellent location for live music with lighting and sound quality absolutely top notch.

The evening started with a brilliant 30 minute support set from Liverpool's Esme Bridie. A name I have to admit I had not come across in the past but her meaningful vocals and clever guitar playing provided a brilliant prelude to what was to come.

After a short interval, it was time for Jenny Colquitt to enter the stage. What followed was an absolute masterclass of music. Effortlessly moving between guitar, harmonica and keyboard accompaniment, Jenny wowed everyone in attendance with her wonderful lyrics and extraordinary vocals. 

Jenny writes from the heart on a variety of subjects and her songs about mental health are particularly meaningful for me personally, having known people who have struggled with this in the past. I was also moved to have one of my favourite songs Poetry of You sung for me. Thanks Jenny, it was a special moment that I will remember for a long time. 

The absolute cherry on the top of the cake was the encore - Jenny's stunning cover of Sting's "Fields of Gold". I don't make such comparisons lightly but I couldn't help but be reminded of Eva Cassidy's version of this song - one of the all time great voices in my opinion.

After having watched many of Jenny's internet streams, it was something of a surreal moment to actually see Jenny perform - in 3D as it were! It's an amazing feeling to have had such high expectations for an event truly and utterly exceeded. Months of anticipation in the build up to this and it was honestly one of the best gigs I've ever been to.

As well as the forthcoming release of her debut album, Jenny also has more music coming out soon as lead singer of the band ELY. There is plenty to look forward to in the next few months.

I can't wait to see what the next few years hold for this talented singer songwriter. The sky's the limit.