A triple bill at York’s Fulford Arms meant a road trip with my North Sea Sound Check co-host, musician Beth Pilling, to see what lay in store at the renowned live music venue. A warm welcome awaited, from the ticket booth to the bar and management, and time was enjoyably spent finding the names of local bands on the graffitied beam in front of the stage, before the evening got going.
Moongate opened the evening, her soft dreamgaze vocals belying a strength to the spirit of her songs, several of which were full of chagrin about an ex, starting with the song titled ‘Josef’. This York-based musician’s ethereal demeanour and delicate playing paired with a heartening sense of humour and the crowd were appreciative and warmed by this opener.
Sam McKie arrives with similar gentleness and underlying strength, unassumingly but definitively driving through a collection of his folk songs. Many are filled with reference to the natural world, while there are more emotive human themes, such as the lilting Hope and Glory. Sam’s lyrical dexterity is matched by his vocal quality; a captivating combination. The audience were effusively vocal about their appreciation, too.
Headliner Jack Robertson began with a number of solo tracks – those familiar with his debut album, Danube Blues, may recall that roughly half are solo songs and the remainder are full band arrangements. Although the album has a narrative arc when played in order, this evening Jack explains that for the first time, he is playing his solo songs as a cluster before the band join; the songs are certainly as enjoyable in any order!
There are, in any case, a number of new, as yet unreleased tracks in the mix tonight, some untitled at this stage. Standing favourites such as Purgatory, Window Seat, Golden Penny, and Landmark are interspersed with some fresh tracks; some enshrining heartbreak, such as waking up the morning after a break up and the setting in of reality; others are full of love, promise and uplift. Support artist Sam McKie joins for Lucidity. The band – Lewis Ward on bass and Joseph Gardham on drums – play superbly, and Jack manages his harmonica as well as guitar and vocals with aplomb and a sense of occasion. This was a delightful evening of original music from the Yorkshire Coast and York itself, blending a great venue with a quality and well-assembled line up – what a treat.
Links: Jack Robertson : Sam McKie : Moongate
Photos by Mica J Photography
