Dylan Fowler - 11 October 2024

This was something a bit different for us but at a great venue in Abergavenny - a beautiful old chapel we have been to once before for a gig. We have seen Dylan Fowler before but as part of Alaw with Oliver Dickson-Smith but this was a solo acoustic guitar gig exploring a range of musical traditions. The Welsh influence was of course strong including a couple of pieces based on harp music but there was also Bulgarian, Indian, American jazz, Scottish and Beatles influences. The concert was pretty much the whole of his new album 'Ebb and Flow' and with a surprising encore of 'Albatross'. I particularly enjoyed the second half and though most of the pieces were new to me they all had a quality of involvement which all good music brings. Dylan was looking a lot older (and iller) than when we last saw hime with Alaw but he is still producing exquisite music.

Robert Vincent 6 October 2024

Robert Vincent impressed a few years ago as a support act so it was good to get a chance to see him at the small Acapela Studio venue. I was surprised when I arrived to find the venue less than busy and so it was an audience of of maybe 60 to 70 people that welcomed Robert plus his bassist and his piano player. The first half consisted of quite a few songs from his 2020 album 'In this town you're owned' and the second half featured in large part the new album 'Barriers' neither of which I knew before this week. In summary the gig was outstanding from start to finish - he writes interesting and melodic songs, sings strongly and the painist/keyboards player and double bassist were excellent. Of the new songs I loved 'The Insider' and 'Burden' particularly and also 'Lost Souls' but it was all great stuff. Sitting about six feet away we couldn't have had a better appreciation of a very good gig. The informal atmosphere also contributed with some good scouse humour along the way.

Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve 17 September 2024

I bought what I thought were surprisingly expensive tickets for this show at the Beacon because Elvis Costello has always delivered a great show and an original one whenever I have seen him. This was no exception First up was Ian Prowse who was a full throated scouser singer songwriter. He started with an acapela folky song and played an interesting selection ending with ‘Does this train stop on Merseyside’ which we had heard Christy Moore sing many years ago but which he wrote. Elvis Costello appeared with just Steve Nieve plus a technician who sometimes sorted out some drums and other stuff. Steve Nieve was brilliant – I hadn’t appreciated how good a keyboards player he was. Elvis as always delivered superb singing, interesting guitar accompaniment and a great selection of songs. It was a two hour set with all his hits, some covers and a lot of songs I didn’t recognise but without exception enjoyed. The covers included ‘Ghost Town’ and a super version of ‘Don’t let me be misunderstood’ which blew away the Animals version which I had previously thought was good. The EC hits were all done as new arrangements, ‘Alison’, ‘I don’t want to go to Chelsea’ and ‘Olivers Army’ all came across as original versions particularly with Steve Nieve's piano which featured strongly throughout the gig One highlight was ‘Shipbuilding’ which has to be my favoutrite of his songs but that was soon followed by ‘Watching the Detectives in up tempo mode and the the entirely appropriate ‘What’s so funny bout peace love and understanding’ to finish the gig. Yet again Elvis Costello delivers.