Luckily, they were running a little bit late which gave me the opportunity to catch the end of James Brute’s set, somebody I haven’t seen for a few years and another fine musician. Playing a grungy blues rock, he joked about how rusty he was after not playing for two years. It didn’t sound it.

This was also John’s first set gig since lockdown and showcased some of the songs from his Albany Sessions album released in 2020. John combines his excellent dark, scuzzy, psychy, delta blues guitar sound with his gruff vocals. On his cover of Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘In My Time of Dying’ the song is stripped back almost to his vocals. The guitar simply being used to accent the darkness of the song. I absolutely love the sound John creates. The temptation when you are as good a guitar player as he is, is to overdo the guitars. But he blends his vocals and guitar perfectly. The set seemed to be over in a flash. Leaving me wanting more. Hopefully, it won’t be long before he plays again.

Set List

• Come Alone
• Sinnerman
• St Louis
• Chaos and Calypso
• True Love Waits
• Sweet Angel
• In My Time of Dying
• Dance With Me
• Left
• Age of Affluence
• Riders

The evening started with Avalanche Party. I wasn’t initially sure as the first song didn’t do anything for me. But as the songs flew by. I found I was really enjoying their set.

James Brute followed, playing grungie blues songs. Great voice and great guitars. What more do you want.

Closing the evening was Kingsley Chapman and his new band the Murder, a talented bunch of musicians playing doom-laden ballads. There’s really not many bands around like them. Tonight they were on top form with intense, brooding songs of love, life, and politics. It makes a change to see somebody sing with passion and things that mater.