Tonight’s show is a game of two halves with the first set concentrating largely on Sarah’s fine album ’Wonderland’ from this year with the second half taking in some Christmas classics along with more original material from Sarah. It’s also a UK country guest fest with Jamie Lawson, The Wandering Hearts and Ward Thomas appearing on stage throughout the night.
Onto the show and after a shaky start sound wise where the drums were all wrong and Sarah’s voice was too low in the mix the sound guy sorts this out and we are treated to five songs from the latest album. Sarah originally from Iowa and now, of course, Nashville resident doesn’t have what you would call a traditional country voice. There’s not much twang but at the low end it has hints of Steve Nicks added to some impressive top end vocals too. After the initial sound issues Sarah’s voice soars in this impressive room.
First guest is Jamie Lawson who does a couple of tracks. He has a self-deprecating charm and is apparently mates with Ed Sheeran, but he doesn’t live long in the memory for me and I’m not sure his version of ‘Hallelujah’ adds anything to the myriad of covers of that song out there. Ed’s note, obviously Jeff Buckley’s version is the best.
Next up we have in my opinion the UK’s finest country rock harmony band The Wandering Hearts and its been a very long year since their five star gig up the road at the Assembly Hall last November. After performing their best song ‘Burning Bridges’ Sarah joins them on stage for ’The Christmas Song’ where they can really showcase some sweet four-part harmonies until the break.
After the break we continue with some Darling originals before welcoming Ward Thomas on to the stage for a Joni cover of ‘River’ and The Macs ‘Landslide’. Its on this last track that the band get their groove on and the three leading ladies hit their vocal stride and fill the church from pews to the top of the dome with their beautiful harmonies.
Onto the Christmas segment proper with ‘Santa Baby’, ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’. Everyone loves a Christmas song even though we only waved November goodbye a couple of days ago. This particularly segment of the show ends with an acapella version of Silent Night without any mics to a completely rapt audience. It’s a hair tingling moment.
Its been a beautiful relaxing couple of hours with some great songs, great guests that help you forget the worries of the world temporarily and you cannot stop yourself smiling and leaving with a warm glow inside.
Till the next time keep on country rockin’ y’all