I managed to get out to see Applewood
Road at Rough Trade Records yesterday evening, and
they were fabulous. This was a
tiny gig in a small (if legendary) record shop, with the band by the sales
counter and an audience couple of dozen people looking over racks of vinyl and
CDs. It was wonderfully intimate, and I
was lucky enough to sit very close by – an incautiously expansive gesture by
Emily would probably have had my eye out – and at that range there's nowhere to
hide. You're either really good or
you're not and it shows plainly.
Applewood Road
were really good. Really, really
good. They are Emily Barker, Amber
Rubarth and Amy Speace - three very fine singer/songwriters in their own right,
and together they are something quite special.
They write and perform great, varied material, play very well and sing
quite wonderfully. Their three
distinctive voices blend beautifully, the harmonies are lovely and they have
the skill and technical excellence to make the whole thing seem effortless so
they perform with simple, wholly engaging enjoyment.
Quite simply, they are a class act. I wrote a more detailed review of a
performance at Union Chapel HERE; you can see a video from that show on YouTube HERE, and videos from the album recording HERE. Their album is out on 12th
February - I am waiting with keen anticipation and a little frustration for
mine to arrive via Pledge Music. Expect
a review here in the near future.
Applewood Road
are currently (February 2016) touring small venues in southern England.
It's a wonderful musical experience,
they are happy to mingle with the audience afterward and are all extremely
personable and charming. The list of
venues is HERE. Do go to see them if you
can – they really are exceptional, I think.
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