LIVE REVIEW: COUNTRY CALLING FESTIVAL - JACK BROWNING - LIL NASHVILLE DIVE BAR

If there was a prize for sartorial elegance at Country Calling, then surely it would have gone to Jack Browning, who was quite dapper to say the least. He also managed to shake the Lil Nashville stage to its foundations with some classic no nonsense sounds.

Opening with his latest single "Speak Your Mind (But Ride A Fast Horse)", he would waste no time in establishing an instant groove. With a band consisting of pedal steel player Henry Webb-Jenkins who had earlier played with Florence Sommerville and Darren Juniper on bass sporting some impressive facial hair. Jack was a live wire, immediately commanding the viewers attention but not afraid in letting his band share the limelight.

Alluding to the accompanying cover pic on it's release, he would launch into "Champagne Taste" which would see Jack walk the stage such as it was. With the pedal steel prominent, this was the perfect setting for this sound. Initially acoustic "James Alley Blues" had something of a funky sound to it as it developed, then later countrified by the glorious pedal steel.

A cover of Tyler Childers "Whitehouse Road" kept things moving nicely. Halfway through there would be an injection of pace and volume as the band truly rocked out. Slowing the pace a little, came a ballad "Muhlenberg Country Stars", with this band version maybe just edging the recorded version. Possibly a country first in that it was a song about podcasts, "Factory Reset" resumed the uptempo country of earlier. With the pedal steel player moving to a traditional stand up guitar, it was easy to see why Jack is mixing with the likes of Chris Stapleton, and Tyler Childers when he plays in the US.

This was proper country music, "You Can't Love Me Anymore" came with a more measured downbeat delivery from Jack, while the pedal steel went wild around him. Such was the response that a well earned encore was requested and Bobby Bare's "Amarillo Highway" saw us off in style. Jack will be touring the UK in January - if you love your Country music, make sure you check him out - if he's good enough for Chris Stapleton then chances are he's good enough for you - Excellent entertainment in the Lil Nashville Bar.