Steve Earle - 22 June 2023

We've seen Steve Earle quite a few times starting in 2000 but the last time was nearly eight years ago so it was good to catch him at St Georges on his solo acoustic tour. First up was Roseanne Reid as support a singer songwriter we have seen and enjoyed before as a support act.Her songs are interesting, her voice pleasantly raspy and it was an enjoyable set. I did enjoy the one cover song she did, 'Bluebird' a Miranda Lambert song. Steve Earle ambled on stage and hit his stride early on singing 'Devil's Right Hand' followed by 'My Old Friend the Blues'. About half an hour in I really loved 'Taneytown' and a few songs later an outstanding version of 'Nashville Blues'. He played three instruments during the set a 6-string guitar, a 12-string and a mandolin. On all three he was impeccable and I am always struck at his concerts that he is an outstanding guitarist. No flash solos just rock solid perfection. His voice may be a little less compelling than it used to be but there is no dimunition of his guitar (and mandolin) playing. A lovely version of 'Transcendental Blues', a compelling mining disaster song 'It's about blood' and then the classics 'Galway Girl' and 'Copperhead Road' to finish the main set. The encore included another compelling narrative 'Billy Austin' and then a big finish with 'Jerusalem'. Probably the last time I'll get to see Steve Earle at close range (front row as per) and another impeccable performance from a master.

Bonnie Raitt - 15 June 2023

I was looking for somewhere to stay en route to Barnsley and I spotted that there was a single reasonable seat left in this gig in Symphony Hall so that settled it - Birmingham it was. First up was Gareth Dunlop - singer songwriter with some nice songs a second guitarist and a poor sound system. He was OK. Bonnie Raitt had a drums, bass, keyboards and lead guitarist to complement her slide guitar. She kicked off with 'Made Up Mind' from her most recent album and then did a range of songs from her repertoire carefully crediting the songwriter. 'No Business' a John Hiatt song was early in the set and the next song that really hit home was a Mali influenced song 'Back Around' that had a genuine West African feel about it. This is one of the best things about Bonnie Raitt she brings all sorts of influences into her music and makes them her own. The band helps - all excellent musicians (Ricky Fataar drums,James Hutchinson bass, Glenn Patscha, keyboards and Duke Levine, guitar. Glen in particular was a virtuoso keyboards player and was given plenty of chances to solo. A tribute to John Prine was her song 'Just Like That' and she was much taken with the fly that stayed on her wrist for the whole song and flew away at the end (I saw it go) relating it to the lyrics of John Prine's 'Angel from Montgomery' She did two excellent Bonnie Hayes songs written for the Raitt album 'Nick of Time' namely 'Love Letter' and 'Have a Heart'. The finish to the main set was exquisite - a version of 'Angel from Montgomery'that was her on acoustic with the band joining in and then brilliantly ' Burning Down the House'. The encore comprised a Mike Read song ' I can't make you love me', 'One Belief Away' and then a barnstorming finish covering B B King's 'Never Make Your Move Too Soon, Great slide guitar, great songs covered the Bonnie Raitt way, some excellent keyboards and vocals. That'll do nicely.

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - 8 June 2023

I wnet for this gig because I liked the sound of the offering which was essentially to hear the leading Ngoni player. This was a punt which paid off handsomely. Bassekou is an astinishing exponent of the four string Ngoni which he called the grandfather of the guitar and listening to him a number of guitar heroes would be astonished at his technical mastery of the tiny instrument. The band also featured a Bass Ngoni a Gourd type drum, a percussionist and a powerful vocalist Amy Sacko. Together they made a tight unit the drummer and percussionist never missing a beat and Bassekou playing some amazing stuff on top of it. The main vocalist Amy Sacko had an expressive powerful and very African voice. The opening song was magical - starting with some notes played from the green room and building as the musicians came on stage with a variety of sections within the lengthy opener and featuring some amazing ngoni lead playing from Bassekou. Probably the gig didi not quite reach those heights again but the whole show was brilliant from start to finish. Again at the end it was a great finish with the musicians leaving one by one until the two percussionists finished the show. The individual musicians were all given a solo platform with the percussionist stealing the show playing a tiny shoulder worn drum frenetically. The vocalist also ramped up her delivery for her solo shot and whilst I didn't knwo what she was saying precisiely I was feeling the emotions. Good call - great show.