We are stopping long journies to London or Birmingham for gigs as much as possible but there are exceptions and Rhiannon Giddens is one of them and it was nice to back in Birmingham Town Hall - a great if underused venue. First up was Phillipa Zawe a singer songwriter with a great voice and playing with a flautist and a cellist. I missed some of her set but she was an interesting act.
Rhiannon Giddens kicked off with 'Calling Me Home' - that's the way to start a gig! The set list was wide ranging and interesting. There was a brilliant Italian ballad 'Quante stelle nel cielo con la luna' sung in the original language, a Cuban song sung in Spanish, instrumentals played on combinations of Viola and Banjo, Accordion and Viola and Drum with either Banjo or Viola, 'I shall not be moved', an obscure Paul Simon song, 'Underneath a Harlem Moon' etc.
All this plus the main attraction the incredible voice and singing of Rhiannon.
Just an outstanding and eclectic gig and already a contender for gig of the year.
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