Miriam Jones and Flocks, Live at All Hallows, Thursday 11 October
Previewed by Nicola Hambridge (@Bagpus) …
With one foot in the church and the other in a barrel of ale, Live at All Hallows is a part of All Hallows Church, Hyde Park, an inclusive community which opens its doors each month, since 2010, to a wide variety of (mainly acoustic) musicians, including several folk awards winners. Some may be on a Christian journey, some are campaigning for social justice and but all play damn good music!
The first gig in their autumn schedule welcomes Canadian singer-songwriter Miriam Jones with support from Leeds’ own Flocks.
Miriam has a way of singing the soul back home without putting it to sleep. Poppy and light? Yes. Soulful and reflective? Indeed. Folky and human? Absolutely.
Miriam is probably best know in the UK for her appearances at the Greenbelt arts festival, but has had plenty of airplay on Radio 2. She has a particular gift for writing earth and angels side by side, and a voice to sound them so. Described in a recent live review as ‘Springsteen in a Kitchenette’, Jones’ skilful and passionate performances along with a vulnerable writing style, never fail to delight her audience. This will be a duo gig with Miriam’s husband, bassist Jez Carr.
Following two studio albums recorded in Canada, Miriam moved to the UK, wrote an EP, recorded and released a song a month in 2009 (The Solitary Songs), and then finished her third album ‘Fire-Lives’ in late 2010, subsequently rerecording a couple of tracks at Abbey Road for radio play. Recorded live in her Oxford terrace with a band of bass, drums, electric guitar and Miriam’s own acoustic guitar and straight-forward piano, Fire-lives sparkles with raw spirit and power in a thoughtfully combined set of heartening songs, sometimes buoyant and winsome, at other times slow-burning and dark.
Miriam isn’t just mining the usual female singer-songwriter vein. She’s got some fresh ideas, rhythmically and harmonically. It was a privilege to be a part of her project. I hope lots of people find this music. It’s got beauty and surprise all in one package. Which is a lot like life, right?
Charlie Peacock, Sr. A&R Consultant-Sony/ATV
Support is from local 4-piece Flocks, featuring the songs of Reece Jacob (drummer with Hunting Bears) who are already gaining a good reputation in Leeds music venues.
Tickets (£5 adv) are available at: www.skiddle.com/events/11720768
More details at www.facebook.com/events/421044297953790/