LIVE REVIEW: ALAN WEST & ADAM SWEET - THE HARBOUR INN - AXMOUTH

Nothing like a few days on the Devon/Dorset coast prior to the rigours of Buckles & Boots, and a trip to that neighbourhood on the first Tuesday of the month can only mean one thing, a chance to enjoy a soiree with Alan West and Adam Sweet. It's been all change at The Harbour Inn since our last visit with the room transformed, with a carvery where the previous performing space was and the stage now at the other end of the room.

The quality of the music remains unparalleled, from the opening salvo of the twin acoustics, accompanied by the gentle tap on stomp pedal, for "What Love Is" welcomes us to another two sets of quality Americana. Adam will throw in a solo, as he will do many times throughout the evening and from the audience, the quiet voices of those singing along can just be heard. It's a relaxed evening that can veer between a version of Guy Clark's "LA Freeway", and discussions about this years tomato crop and which varieties to grow!

Alan is a keen musicologist and seems always able to find a gem that you have not heard before, that will send you off scurrying to find out the history of a long forgotten singer.

Tonight "Gulf Stream Dreamin'" by Wayland Patton would be one such tune, the extended notes suiting Alan's timbre perfectly. A John Prine tune, "Hello In There" would follow, the words at first poignant, before becoming strangely pertinent, Alan's face as he sung the line "Now the news just repeats itself" was a picture in itself.

The highlights were many, Alan was particularly in the zone for his version of Ags Connolly's "Get Out Of My Mind", which he would finish with a reflective "Ah beautiful". More musicology would follow with hilarious talk regarding David Allan Coe, before a version if "Jack Daniels If You Please" would highly impress

"Jack Daniels, if you please

Knock me to my knees

You're the only friend

There has ever been that didn't do me wrong".

The passing of Don Schlitz was honoured with a version of "The Gambler" that made the hairs on your arm stand up, it seemed so real and vivid possessing real depth, as opposed to the more familiar, yet by comparison lightweight version of the tune. The swampy "Down On The Bayou" would close out the first half of the evening, offering a chance to make a little noise.

Needless to say the second half carried on the good work of the first, Tom Russell's "Blue Wing" recalled the glory days of his visit to Torquay. Songs could be linked by the most tangential of anecdotes, someone taking a train from New Orleans to Memphis was enough to get us to Steve Goodman's "City Of New Orleans", with lyrics of the sort that you just do not get any more. Adam would add backing vocals to "I Don't Wanna Lose You Yet".

There is definitely something about the way that Alan sings a tune, #TEAMw21 have heard Nanci Griffith and Darius Rucker sing "Gulf Coast Highway" yet neither were able to produce that moment where the hairs on your arm stand to attention.

Billy Joel's fisherman's tale "Downeaster Alexa" is about as far away from most peoples idea of Billy Joel as it gets, yet this tale of the travails of the fishing community has resonance in this part of the world, even if its references are to places in the US, the sentiment remains the same.

Adam Sweet's vocal moment to shine would come with "Backstop", still one of #TEAMw21's favourite tunes of 2026, this would see roles reversed with Alan having to supplement Adam's guitar playing.

A final burst of songs would see "The Likes Of You", followed by the last moment of absolute magic with Jefferson Ross's "The Prophet Elijah". It's a song that #TEAMw21 have heard Alan perform many times over the last 10 years, and yet each time it remains a stirring masterpiece.

Alan West & Adam Sweet will return to The Anchor Inn on June 2nd and the first Tuesday of subsequent months.

Ags Connolly with his band will play at the same venue on June 26th

Both shows are highly demanding of your attention if you are in the area, for 2 nights where satisfaction is guaranteed.