LIVE REVIEW: KEZIA GILL & FRIENDS - ROBERT VINCENT - HANNAH WHITE - THE FORGE - BASINGSTOKE

You could pretty much have thrown a dart at any date on the Kezia Gill and Friends tour and landed yourself a highly entertaining evening, such was the quality of the cast on each date, yet one night stood out among all of the others where joining Kezia would be Hannah White and Robert Vincent. This would mean a trio of AMA award winners under one roof and a mixture of performing styles. Kezia like a musical Dr Who would be in her third regeneration in about 7 months, having previously been in fabulous one woman show mode at Bush Hall, and full band and Spotlight superstar at C2C 2025. She was now to be found hosting a Songwriters Round with Robert Vincent who performed one of the most perfect sets at last years Long Road Festival, so we knew he was on top form, while Hannah White is rarely to be seen in this solo format and was hot off the back of releasing 12 singles in 12 months. It was just too good to be missed.

The venue for this extravaganza was in Basingstoke, where while The Anvil, a bigger theatre tonight was hosting "Songs From The Musicals" we would fill its smaller sister venue, which keeping the Blacksmith theme going, was named The Forge. Holding just under a hundred people in steeply banked seating, it would be an ideal venue for what Kezia would later proudly inform us, she had been told was their fastest selling event of 2025. With a tiny stage area, housing 3 chairs and a small merchandise table, this would be a performance at it's most intimate. Presented by the Nashville Meets London team, it was heartening to hear that this was the third of four successful events proving that there is a UK country scene in Hampshire

It would be Robert Vincent who would kick things off donning a harmonica with "(In) This Town ( You Are Owned)". Magnificently wordy, making full use of the harmonica with a captivating solo, a quick glance to the right showed Kezia watching transfixed, while Hannah was in her zone absorbing every detail. Kezia would fill the room with rich Americana sound of "Mr Cash" the only familiar song she would play on the night. Hannah would announce that there is a new album coming in Sept 2025 and would play a song linked to her late father, who has popped up a few times in Hannah's back catalogue. Listing the things she would be prepared to give up for the chance to "Hard Hitting Memories", there was lyrically a lot to take in and the soulful delivery, as Hannah sang "I'd give up the feel of the sun on my skin" was truly heartfelt and touching.

Robert would open Round 2 with "Follow What You Love And Love Will Follow", which came with a heartfelt introduction, which would follow into the performance and would see both Kezia and Hannah join in on backing vocals. Kezia would give a little tease of just what lies ahead with her new album with "Drinking To Drunk", full of delicious country melodies, this was pure Nashville in Basingstoke and is going to really connect with people. Hannah would close round 2 with one of her 12 singles in 12 months "Nobody Minds Us", The simple yet addictive chorus would see Kezia and Robert join in as well - It is the sort of cross pollenation that makes these events so special.

It was an evening where each round just seemed to get better and better, Robert Vincent set things up with atmospheric guitar intro on "Conundrum" before laying down the sweetest of choruses with the simplest of hopeful messages -

You're born in this world alone, try to leave it better off when you go".

A new song from Kezia "The Search" again just gave us another glimpse of the depth of material she has up her sleeve. It was a positive song with a gloriously optimistic outlook. This round would close Hannah White singing "Car Crash", one of those songs able to raise the hairs on your arm, it is brutally honest, emotional and real. It is surely not easy to sing and yet each time it draws an amazing response. It would close as good a songwriters round as #TEAMW21 have seen in a long while.

In a nice touch the second half would start with Kezia paying tribute to Hannah's closing song from the previous round , gaining another round of applause. So, with tissues at the ready, it was time for three more rounds. Robert would once more open each round this tie with "Burden", which came with the most dramatic passionate delivery on the chorus with the volume raising considerably, Lifted even further with additional backing vocals it was only on the final verse that the delivery dropped to more of a whisper. Inspired by Hannah's efforts in the previous round, Kezia would play her own vulnerable song "Through Your Eyes", a clever guitar refrain matched to powerful lyrics, exposes a side to Kezia many will not know exists. Hannah followed promising to lighten the mood, with another of her singles "Safety From Harm", getting the audience to be her backing singers did help relieve some tension.

Round 5 would start with a positive message from Robert Vincent in "The Ending", his voice once more soaring round the tiny room. Another new song from Kezia not necessarily for the next album but possibly the one after that, came in the shape of "Baby", which came with laugh out loud lines, in verses listing the things she can do mixed with a chorus of the things that she still likes to happen. Hannah would bring out another song from the new album, "Maybe One Day" which kept the room transfixed and set expectations high for the new album

The final round would see Robert bring out his tour de force of "Demons", which starts with his powerful vocal supported by the gentlest of possible guitar playing. It is another hair on the arms moment as Robert builds up the atmosphere gradually ramping up the volume of his playing to match his singing. Kezia would close with another unreleased song "Wings" which had a bluesy feel and was full of truisms telling a wonderful message - With her vocals soaring on the chorus, this was stirring stuff and saw Kezia signing off her collections of songs in style. The job of closing the night fell to Hannah, with another of singles "Working Shoes", something of a rally cry for these troubled times.

Eighteen songs, lots of laughter, the occasional tear or two and three of the UK's finest on absolute tip top form - If we see another Songwriters round to match it this year then we'll consider ourselves blessed.