With its plush seating and huge auditorium the Birmingham Symphony Hall is approximately a million miles away from your usual beer-soaked, sticky-floored music venue. The venue would best described by the word “polite”; the ushers (not security) who prevent you from taking your seats until an appropriate between song break, the tickets have the word “ ENJOY” on them and the posters in the foyer politely asking us to “like” or vote for the venue in the upcoming “ most welcoming theatre” awards.
Nick Mulvey is the support, a solo singer-songwriter who finger picks and strums his way through a set of lovely folky-tinged songs which would be ideal for a boozy sunny Saturday afternoon on the Garden Stage at the End of the Road festival (those of you who have been to EOTR will know what I mean, those that haven’t shame on you). Standout songs include “Venus” and the title track from his “Fever to the Form” Ep, which is available now.
After the break, into the polite venue strides a confident, three-time Mercury prize nominated (surely a winner this time, place your bets) singer-songwriter Laura Marling.
“Hello, I’m Laura” are her first words from the very bare stage; one mic, two acoustic guitars and two steady spotlights and that’s your lot. Personal preferences from her albums are the songs where additional instrumentation is used to compliment her voice and acoustic guitar but despite this personal disappointment, if you’re singing very personal songs baring your emotions this is probably the right stage to perform on.
Laura opens her set with the same four-song suite as her most recent album “Once I was An Eagle”, next there’s audience favourite “Master Hunter”; five beautifully performed tracks in and we’re all hooked.
A couple of songs later when she pops a guitar string “don’t worry I have a spare” there’s no guitar tech or roadie to scurry on to fix it but Laura tells us a story about the replacement guitar being an old favourite she had replaced with a hunkier newer model whilst she tunes up the old–timer, it shows how much she reveres her guitars that we’re not sure if she’s referring to her instruments or previous boyfriends.
All four of her six syllable titled albums (count them if you don’t believe me) are represented during the set including stunning versions of “Rambling Man” and “Devil’s
The end of her is set is signalled by a Wedding Present-style “we don’t do encores” and the evening finishes on “Where Can I Go?” the best track on “…Eagle” without organ accompaniment but well worth the wait.
Whereas Laura’s previous performances reminded me of someone who’s embarrassed at being found in the wrong meeting and tried to leave without causing a scene, tonight’s show is very different. For a solo performer to hold an audience in this huge auditorium without any lighting or stage effects shows great ability and confidence as a performer. A wonderful performance, in a very polite venue.
Alisdair Whyte