Festival Theatre, Malvern – 25th August 2023
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
4.5****
I love Country music. I love cowboy hats and boots, fiddles, pedal steel guitars and… well, everything about it. So, an evening of classic country tunes at my favourite theatre promised more fun than several shots of Bourbon & Branch before riding a mechanical bull whilst wearing an “I shot J.R.” t-shirt.
The curtain rose to the strains of “Deep In The Heart Of Texas”. Nailing their colours to the mast early on, it was immediately apparent that the band – Sophy Ball (fiddle), Tim Howard (pedal steel, lead guitar and banjo), Tony Davis (piano), Paul Griffiths (bass) and Trevor Brewis (drums) – were as tight as a pair of Daisy Dukes. Virtuosic playing all around, I was particularly taken with Sophy’s fantastically joyous tone on that fiddle.
The set was dressed like a typical downtown Nashville bar. A backdrop and some well placed props like a liquor jug, some barrels featuring well known alcohol manufacturers names and some stools. The “show” was kept simple: the band, the set and the songs – and was all the more powerful for it as it focused the attention on the whip-cracking music.
Country songs are all about the stories: those universal themes we can all relate to (loss, heartbreak, hope for better times ahead and coping during the rough times). In short, the full gamut of human emotions (no matter what side of the pond). And to tell those stories of course you need lyrics and singers to deliver them. So, after the instrumental opening our compere, Middi Murphy (also on lead vocals and guitar) came on and the vittles really got cooking.
Middi and fellow lead vocalist Sarah Boulter both had fantastic voices, full of colour, passion and that authentic country twang. They also had surprising range too – considering the diverse artists the set list presented, they conveyed each song’s emotion to its fullest extent. An impressive vocal display from all involved – including the band who contributed throughout on backing vocals.
Most eras of country music were covered with tons of classic tunes such as “On The Road Again”, “Ring Of Fire”, “Jolene” and “Rhinestone Cowboy” interspersed with some I wouldn’t have thought of including like “Take Me Home Country Roads” (but which made perfect sense) and more modern classics like “Friends In Low Places” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”. Truly something for everyone.
There was a self-deprecating (though respectful) seam of comedy running through the show too, especially from our very personable singers and Sophy and Tim performing “Dueling Banjos” was a particular highlight. No exploration of Country would be complete without some Bluegrass, so “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” was also a very welcome addition.
This show is a toe-tapping jamboree that only the most determined of grouch’s could resist the charms of. With so much wonderful packed into the two hours we were given, from the Deep South to the Midlands, it’s been an absolute pleasure and the crowd showed their appreciation vociferously. I highly recommend hitching your cart to this wagon train. See y’all next time you’re ridin’ through town.