Seven Arts, Chappel Allerton, Leeds – 29th September 2023
Reviewed by Sal Marino
5*****
Tim O’Connor and Friends at The Seven Arts, Chappel Allerton, Leeds was a new and unique experience for me in a few ways: a new venue, a musician I’ve never seen perform before and the first-time I’d heard the flute played live in a solo context. All proved to be uplifting and created a shift within my soul which music has the magical gift and power to do.
The Seven Arts centre has a vibe about it that’s cool and contemporary without being pretentious or intimidating. Old and young sit sipping real ales or a coffee in groups and alone as the uber friendly staff make you feel welcome and at ease. I was on my own and didn’t feel like I didn’t fit in or awkward – there wasn’t that feeling of not being a local or a regular so I can say from experience that new people are most welcome.
Tim’s gig was introduced by an extremely likable host who relaxed the audience straight away and dispelled any pretentiousness about one’s prior musical knowledge and basically said, “Let’s all just enjoy this and have a good time”. And it was evident that we all did enjoy ourselves as the reactions of the audience included: smiles, laughter, clapping and foot tapping to the beat and a few tears here and there.
Tim O’Connor is a soul man: his voice, guitar playing and presence is simply soulful. He touches the soul as his music makes you delve back into past memories and perhaps those memories of past lives and those of our ancestors. You know Tim has been through ‘times’, as we all have, due to how his voice communicates to you – it’s heartfelt and filled with passion. Also, Tim’s voice has a healing quality to it, it creates feelings within you but at the same time soothes you. Done collectively, to a large group of people is very powerful and creates a loving frequency within the room.
What made this performance of traditional and modern folk music exquisite and like you’d got the slice of cake with the cherry on top was not only did we get to hear Tim and his incredible songs but, he invited his ‘Friends’ to join him and play too. Flute player Paul Daly was phenomenal! I am now in love with the flute! The song ‘Butterfly‘ that he played alongside Tim was breathtaking. Halfway through the song the tempo lifts and I felt like I was in another realm.
Mike Walsh – another amazing flute player performed a song about ancestors making journeys and I suddenly found myself reflecting on my own family history of Irish ancestors who left the harbour at Cork for a life overseas which was quite emotional and unexpected. Like many parts within the gig, it felt like a ‘moment’. Each ‘Friend’ of Tim’s was an outstanding performer and together it was like listening to how one would imagine the heavens to sound – an ethereal quality in parts but also just sheer joy and energetic fun in others.
Experiencing Tim O’Connor and Friends was like having a huge warm hug when you need one, a genuine warm smile that you so you instantly return back and it evokes a whole host of emotions within that all relate to love in its different forms.
I’m looking forward to seeing Tim and his friends again someday and also returning to The Seven Arts as both now have a place in my heart.