LIVE REVIEW: HANNAH JANE LEWIS - C2C COUNTRY TO COUNTRY 2026 - THE DUTTON RANCH STAGE

One of the cornerstones of #TEAMw21 history is Hannah Jane Lewis, for it was at her London show at The Borderline that a number of the team actually first met. After quite a few years off genre, it was great to see signs of a return with her single of last year "Everyone's But Mine", and then with the announcement that she'd be playing C2C on the Friday then there was only one place for the team to be. Of course it was always unlikely that she was going to run through "First Time Feeling" or "Tailored To You", those were the works of a teenage Hannah, what was unexpected though was quite how much new country material she has amassed or that her last EP "Consolation Prize" came out in February!

There would be no reference made to this previous "Country" life in her show on The Dutton Ranch Stage or that she had played C2C before, what would be clear to see is that she is back and ready to shake things up a bit! With a 4 piece band behind Hannah would take to the stage, dressed in black, announcing that she was unsure anyone would be there to see her!

She would immediately dive into "Cherry Picking" from the new EP, immediately taking the microphone in hand and reminding us what a great stage performer she is. Just to hear her singing again was a treat, and this relaxed country opener would see Hannah expressing every line through hand movements. With additional backing vocals on the chorus, this really rolled back the years. Little electric guitar flourishes perfectly cut through this gentle opener - with Hannah's vocals as sweet as ever.

"I'd climb the highest tree, to get what you give to me

You're the sweetest thing, out of all the sweetest things

Honey look at us in bloom - you're the one I choose - I'm "Cherry Pickin'"

Another single that passed us by previously was "Good Sport", an exercise in chanelling bad thoughts against those that have annoyed Hannah rather than actually committing those thoughts of ill will. With a lovely recurring guitar refrain backing Hannah and once more the electric guitar adding additional colour, this was another little gem

"I could ruin you life for sure - lucky I'm a Good Sport" - It would end with Hannah's arms outstretched wise.

Things would get even better with "Clean House", which would start with a "Whoo" from Hannah, soon joyed by power percussion and an up front guitar rill upping the volume. This was smooth groove funky Country complete with a sassy talking middle section and Hannah a constant swaying motion - a definite future single for sure. For now, the new single will be "Riding Cars With Boys", where Hannah would send a discernible wave through the audience by mentioning that it was about her adventures in cars with boys!

Reflecting on those days, "I smoked away my innocence", this seemed on first listen a considered reflection. For this live rendition she would playfully end singing "riding in cars with cowboys". Dedicated to the lovers out there "Navy Blue" would she her place the mic back in the stand, holding it with one hand while using the other to indicate rain coming down at one point.

The title track from "Consolation Prize" would prove to be another superior sassy song, with karma catching up on a guy. It came complete with an expletive, more importantly it was another cracking band rendition with superior 60's guitar work and more impeccable delivery from Hannah. A final song "Thursday's Child" utilising the age old poem about days of the week you were born on, was a slower more intense closer. A true big ballad with a beautiful in keeping guitar solo, that well and truly demonstrated Hannah Jane Lewis at her best and announced that she is undoubtedly back back back.