Local Photographer and Cameraman Andy Rowson gives his opinion...
Graham Charmers
This is a ‘Charm Night’ of music.
Charm Live Band Events have been happening at various venues across Harrogate for 10 years now. Therefore it’s fitting that tonight’s venue The Blues Bar is also celebrating its 21st live music venue anniversary.
Tonight’s offering are six acoustic artists and a headlining Indie Band from Leeds. Charm Nights are characterised by their offbeat pre gig mp3 playlist list with visualisations projected live on to the ‘Big Screen’; providing atmospheric backdrops for the live music.
First up was Karl Culley; a masterly performer on the acoustic guitar accompanied by Ash Johnson on double Bass.
Karl’s lightning fast guitar playing is accentuated by his deep lyrical song writing ability - often delving into strange and mysterious areas with a visceral and haunting vocal / guitar combination with echoes of vintage John Martyn / Richard Thompson.
Karl Culley
Quick changes and stage sets were the name of the game as musicians Danny Webster, John Davey and Adam Westerman of the seminally new ‘Birdman Rallies’ introduced their new brand of electro acoustic delivering strongly melodic yet curiously strange stories reminding me of the early Syd Barrett’s work.
The Birdman Rallies
Mark Elliss then recited an incredibly rude rendition followed by John Davey whose usual vocal prowess has been infiltrated by either a winter cold virus or a new found hobby in sword swallowing! However his new ‘rusty fret saw’ vocal sound actually added rather than demised his performance.
Jeremy Grove
Jeremy Grove took to the stage with smouldering persona then followed with a surprisingly downbeat and mellow number by Arc of Manapples.
Charm event organisers Graham Chalmers and James Littlewood deserve credit for their tenacity and dedication in organising and staging these events over the past 10 years - always generating a mixture of the unexpected and downright oddness in their blend of diverse music and visualisations.
Next up – Headliners Wintermute delivered an intense and powerful tight Indie sound; which accompanied by the lead singers hyperactive stage presence often threatened to overpower the small and cosy Blues Bar atmosphere.
Wintermute
All in all quite a week of music celebration!.. although it’s important to realise that with live music on offer every night of the week throughout the year at the Blues Bar this is not just a 'one-off' occurrence.
