LIVE REVIEW: COUNTRY CALLING FESTIVAL - BROOKE LAW - ESSEX HITS VIP STAGE

It did seem at first that the festival Gods were not on Brooke Law's side, technical difficulties had caused Alli Walker to overrun considerably, and it did seem that her set might be severely curtailed because of that. When things did eventually start, she then had to keep a straight face, as a fan with a makeshift cardboard sign reading "I'm only here for Brooke Law" watched on - a sign which he would hold aloft for the entirety of her set - headlining the VIP Stage. He would never waver, not even for a second!

These are interesting times for Brooke with a debut album "Naked Heart" and accompanying launch on the near horizon. Sporting shades to protect against the low hanging sun. she would open with "Villain" - "Farewell and good riddance" - the final "Yeah's" of the chorus fired out with some gusto.

It did seem for "Gypsy Woman" that there was a new slightly husky quality, although this may be more a testament to Brook's furious current gigging schedule. It does seem that with each playing Brooke draws attention to a different line in "Millionaires", today it was the baby "calling out for something more" that seemed to come to the fore in the opening verse that does such a great job of picturing high rise life. The latter, high pitched section also seemed more prominent. It was also time for trademark hair flick.

#TEAMw21 would like to take some credit for seeing "Excuse Me" returning to become a feature of Brooke's regular set, filled with delicious melodies, this was delivered with real intensity. The final lines "Excuse me, while I leave Excuse me" are delivered ever quieter in a nice display of stagecraft.

With the crowd ever swelling, "Big World" highlighted the need to occasionally take a time out. Visibly rising on tiptoes during the chorus, this was impressive stuff from the powerful notes of the chorus to the lullaby like final words of "Close your eyes".

Things would seeming close with a festival singalong on "Boomerang". It had brought things to a suitable crescendo, yet no sooner had the soaring final notes been delivered then the call came for an additional song.

This was where the frustrations of the VIP stage were to once again surface, for halfway through an impressive version of "Flying Solo", the main would once again kick in.

It was fitting set with which to close a Country Calling stage . The VIP stage may have been the smallest stage at the Festival, but it undoubtedly produced some of the most special performances across the weekend, of which this was undoubtedly one.