When you can’t be at a live gig, then a live stream or recording is an accessible option to quell some of the Fear Of Missing Out. Having attended night one of The Lounge Live at Beckview Studios on 27th February in person, online attendance was to be the case for experiencing night two, with Rachel Makena, Alastair James and Pyramid Park.

If you attend in person to experience The Lounge Live at Beckview Studios, then you are aware that interviews are happening around the recordings and you can see, on a TV screen in the waiting area, that there are interspersed extracts from previous sessions used to fill the space between sets.  Admittedly, you don’t get chance to really hear and absorb those parts on the night, so if you’ve been to one live, you’ll want to watch the recording back later and see those exclusive snippets – win-win; and if you’re watching at home then yes, you’re missing the magic of being in the room with live music, but you do get all these little gems as part of the package, showcasing succinctly what a range of artists we have in the region and what an extensive back-catalogue of recordings of them Beckview have already amassed and assembled on their YouTube channel.

First act on tonight’s screening is Beverley’s Rachel Makena, capably introduced by double-duty interviewer and presenter Beth Pilling. Rachel is as charming a performer as she is charmed by the space, and connects with the audience at home as much as she appears to with those in the studio, through her gentle interaction, before launching into a soaring, upbeat yet bittersweet tune about having a crush, Do You Feel The Same? She then switches it up to metaphorical song Bruises, which she explains, with great care, is about toxic relationships that are hard to identify as such; emotionally haunting, it’s a sucker punch; one can only imagine the electrifying quality it must have had live in the studio.

No Planet B kicks off a string of songs Makena has written to raise funds and awareness for the World Wildlife Foundation. Her tales of eco-warriordom are endearing, and she is a great advocate for the cause. Each song has a distinct tone and character – no two sound alike. The light and shade throughout the set is magnificent, and the performance sparkles as much as the lightly sequinned outfit. Through the songwriting, there is a symbiosis between guitar and vocals that melds with relaxed ease in execution.

Alastair James is no stranger to the Beckview Studios, having previously performed his Paul Simon Songbook concerts here. An undeniable talent with amazing vocal quality and emotional depth; songs like One Foot Gracing Heaven have a bittersweet optimism, as if sung by a human reaching the fragile end of their existence. Revealing how he often writes songs but then often ends up tucking them away, he wanted to try out some new songs tonight. Take Me To The Rhythm is one such song, a deliciously fun and metaphorical exploration of life and music.

Alastair plays guitar like he was born with it strapped to him; his warm, mellow voice has a quality that melds across genres, but always holds the quiet power to captivate. Old favourite Scarborough Bay exemplifies his storytelling ability. In I Used To Be Someone he makes the statement, ‘I used to write a thousand songs, I didn’t care to see if they were right or wrong’. It seems safe to surmise the former.

Four piece indie outfit, Pyramid Park, take things up a notch. Their sound defies you not to nod and rock along, joining their gentle but alluring rhythms – audience and backstage shots will confirm that it’s not just you at home on your sofa, feeling this. The songs mainly come from the new album, Cyclones and Silence; lead singer Pete McAllen explains that it is about grief and experiences with loss during the added difficulties wrought by the pandemic. Their songs are deep and thoughtful, they speak of longing, faith and heartbreak, seemingly with hope and optimism; and their demeanours cannot deny that each member is clearly enjoying playing and being in their element.

Pete, on baritone guitar, introduces us to Levi, also on guitar, Matt on drums and Aaron on bass and occasional keyboard. They relate a charming fan story and get the studio audience to chant ‘Oi Pyramid’ before launching into their final two, more upbeat, songs and, with humour, ask the audience to join in on the final song, Never Let Me Down. It’s a delightful and distinctive set.

The whole thing is beautifully captured, without doubt; and there is more to the ‘between sets’ footage than just some stunning drone imagery of Scarborough, circling down to the studio itself, and luscious details of Beckview’s on-site accommodation and all the available kit; before each act begins you see a split-screen showing different areas, live at that moment, as well as general information and previous recordings; seeing the studio audience awaiting their entertainment, and the control room players getting ready for action, is fun and intriguing to see. It’s fun to be in the studio experiencing it live, but it’s equally fun to be at home and seeing glimpses backstage – it’s a great package.

Between sets, each act gets an interview feature with Beth Pilling (who also appears with her band, The Bootleggers, in sections of pre-recorded footage). Beth’s natural charm eases the entertainers into their conversations as they tell us more about themselves and their work. It’s a brilliant additional feature to the programme and all these parts makes it worth watching even the ones you’ve actually been to, all over again at home, so that you get this extra goodness, and learn more about a range of exceptional artists, from the Yorkshire Coast and far beyond.

 

Links:

Rachel Makena – Website : Facebook : instagram : Spotify : YouTube : Bandcamp : iTunes

Alastair James – Website : Facebook : instagram : YouTube

Pyramid Park – Website : Facebook : instagram : YouTube

Beckview Studios – Website : Facebook : instagram : YouTube – subscribe for Lounge Live events and more!