Miriam Jones and Flocks – Live at All Hallows – reviewed by Emily Shaw (@Emily_Shaw1)…
As is typical for Britain, winter seemed to be closing in a season too early when I went to see Miriam Jones and Flocks live at All Hallows Church, Hyde Park. Yet the freezing weather and driving rain did not put off anyone from turning up to this brilliant music event. When I first arrived, the church exceeded expectations, with its high sloping ceiling, perfect for the acoustics needed for music performances. Ten tables were spread around the room, making the gig more intimate and personal, and with candles flickering on each table the church seemed even more beautiful.
First up for the night’s performances were Flocks, a four piece band from right here in Leeds, who were supporting Miriam Jones, and it was truly great to hear one of Leeds’ finest up and coming bands in such a way. The band performs its own songs, which all have beautiful lyrics, and interact brilliantly with the crowd. The band’s performance seemed to have folk at the heart of it, and I would definitely recommend seeing them if you have the chance.
Next the audience got to feel the full effect of Miriam Jones’ commanding voice. Miriam, a Canadian singer songwriter, performed on stage with just a guitar, and her husband, who played bass guitar and sang backing vocals. Leeds is a long way from their home of Oxford, and I feel honoured to have seen the first performance Miriam has ever done in Leeds. Miriam’s performance was beautiful, memorable and thought provoking. As a member of the audience, you really get to know the inspiration and meaning for every song, making the performance seem very personal. The lyrics to each and every song were a mixture of sadness and joy, and the words themselves had the rare effect of making every member of the audience being able to relate to them. What struck me about the performance was how the religious undertones that appeared in some songs were made all the more compelling by the setting. It seemed appropriate that a church would play host to such beautiful music. When listening to Miriam play, I realised that I really could listen all day, since something about her soulful music is very touching, so much so that I stopped to buy her EP at the end of her performance! Go to miriamjones.com for more information on Miriam and her fantastic music.
When combined, this was a brilliant evening of live music, with a setting that created a fantastic atmosphere, and made me at least feel like I never wanted to leave. Everyone at All Hallows is incredibly friendly and helpful, and I would definitively recommend it as a music venue. To find out when there are more performances at All Hallows, go to Live at All Hallows, and from me, enjoy!