Songwriter Circle - A MUSICAL Treat!

Having been gutted I had to miss the Songwriter Circle gig 2, I was more than delighted to be able to go to the (now very established) third one of the series this week! This was again at the Courtyard Cafe in Attercliffe just like the one I covered last September (see here) and the one I missed earlier this year. This one featured a great line up of very talented songwriter/singer/musicians:-

Julia Waldron – singer songwriter (and half of the Daisy Daisy act)
Nicola Farnon – singer songwriter (and the other half of Daisy Daisy)
Edwina Hayes – singer songwriter
Jon Palmer – singer songwriter

There was a great mix of stories and songs from the 4 and the evening passed so fast. As with all the songwriting circle gigs it was done in the style of the songwriting circle at the famous Bluebird cafe in Nashville, where singer songwriters are invited to sing songs and share some of the stories behind the songs, and as an experience in Sheffield it was great – some really great and funny stories in a very relaxed atmosphere and a very cosy acoustic music setting of the Courtyard Cafe.

And Edwina was able to reminisce on her own equivalent occasion at the said Bluebird cafe in Nashville. And her stories of her family are something else indeed, and certainly give her plenty of inspiration for her songs(!). I’ll not reveal any of those details you need to see and hear for yourself! Again great songs and sung with such an easy to listen sweetness.

That’s not to say the stories from Jon, Nicola and Julia weren’t up to it, as they were – and all their paths to where they are now are very interesting and very different, but they all have one thing in common, great songwriting, singing and talent! Julia reminds us of her new found love (well, been a while now) and his inspiration for at least one of her songs. Her not so loving exes provide inspiration too for her less cheery but so evocative songs!

Jon Palmer is new to me, but has a great voice and songwriting talent that is seen regularly on the folk music circles and is at many festivals – see his website for his very busy gig list where he performs as a solo artist in duos and with his own Acoustic Band.

Nicola Farnon also has plenty of stories (quite a few about her hips!) and is a very busy lady at the moment – see her gig list on Facebook! She said she was nervous as this time she couldn’t hide behind her double base (as she did on many pictures at this gig). She sang some lovely songs (by her own account, some pretty sad ones) and has a rich silky voice that draws you in. Lovely.

And of course Julia Waldron, who I’ve seen, heard and photographed quite a few times now (and not that long ago with Nicola Farnon at their Daisy Daisy gig here) never disappoints. A lovely person, a great voice and some super songs of life, love and white van drivers!

A word or two on the supporting side – well done Adam Coulson on the great sound. Well done too to the Courtyard cafe for what looks like great food (I didn’t eat), good value drinks and a lovely atmosphere and setting. And a big Thank You to Lynne Robertson and her team for making all this happen – she has brought Nashville style to Sheffield with this type of gig, she has re-invented the ‘Listening Concert’ concept of respectful silence and supports live music in and around Sheffield with some vigour! And of course a big thank you to the performers on this gig – great entertainment from great talent and at great value for a superb night out! Roll on the next ones! See upcoming gigs on Lynne’s Live Lounge Page.

Just one more mention – the lighting is not the best at gigs and at the cafe this time, and despite writing myself a note I left the best lens for this type of gig at the studio… so again I have gone for a mostly B&W look on these photos. They are more grainy than I would like.