Strings and Things at Leaf Cafe - Review

Upstairs at Leaf Cafe is fast becoming synonymous as a venue for showcasing talented young singer/songwriters and now they have paid host to the first night of "Strings and things", the brain child of Ian Weller of StillHet Music Promotions. 

The night certainly lived up to its name, with a backdrop of a whole lot of string from floor to ceiling and with guitars a plenty, keyboard's and a very blue violin to name but a few instruments providing the music for the night.

The night was a chilled out affair, with plenty of ambiance provided by the setting and also the different musical styles on offer. We were treated to folk style songs with a bit of upbeat country twang inserted in to get your toes a tapping and some beautiful vocals to accompany it from, Ivy and the Chance, witty lyrics from, Just By Chance about how bad Sue is at Sudoku and the perils of thrush along with some superb guitar playing from the duo and a soulful set from Yarbo,who decided to end the final night of his UK tour here. Yarbo's lyrics come from the heart and attach themselves to yours and you could have heard a pin drop during his set.

The two highlights of the night for me though were Charley Blue, a girl from the countryside who has a penchant for the violin, rapping and the odd bit of beat boxing as she left her tap shoes at home. With an eccentric and eclectic style, Charley Blue brought us some jazz, rock and rap throughout her set including "Frisky" and her take on Wretch 32's "Traktor" and I've got to admit, I much preferred her witty version of it.

Charley Blue took to the stage again as support vocals and that blue violin in hand with Laura James and the Lyres,(she was the only Lyre able to make it that night). Cumbria born Laura James oozes talent,from her sublime acoustic guitar playing, gentle angelic vocals to her beautifully innocent lyrics, that only come along with youth. Each song told a story and each word captured everybody there. With songs like "Crocodile Tears" and love song "Bluebell" this young singer/songwriter has the sweetest disposition on stage and you can't help but float along with her music. A truly captivating performance from someone so young.

Hopefully this will become a regular night, whether at Leaf or another venue that can help create such a fabulous ambiance to so many talented musicians out there. I can only advise that when it happens again, you get yourselves down there as you will not be disappointed one little bit.

Article posted by Musicmafia