w21Music | Reviews

Search

WLAG - Vic Allen, Emily Faye, Beth Keeping, Liv Austen Charlotte Campbell & Katie Coleman

WLAG - Vic Allen, Emily Faye, Beth Keeping, Liv Austen Charlotte Campbell & Katie Coleman

The Write Like a Girl bandwagon continues to gather momentum with another full house, this time at its new location the Water Rats. Such is its gravitational pull that it seems to be able to pull in more artists and audience with each show - in fact the eagle eyed might have spotted Lauren Ray, a talented singer in her own right checking tickets on arrival . In a crowd packed with various recognizable faces there was one person who would have such a bearing on the nights pro

Liv Austen, Remember Monday - The Green Note

Liv Austen, Remember Monday - The Green Note

Another sold out show for UK Americana acts at The Green Note, with the queue once again snaking down the Parkway in anticipation of what was to come. Remember Monday are something of a force of nature at the moment, like a tornado they suddenly appear, blow everyone away musically and then head off to convert more followers. Somewhat bizarrely introduced as "Remembering Mondays", hastily corrected by chief songwriter Lauren Byrne it was our second chance in five days to see

Sarah Darling - UK Tour

Sarah Darling - UK Tour

The current shenanigans at Pledge Music mean that "Wonderland" the follow up to "Dream Country" is slightly delayed but the tour goes on!!! As well as bringing lots of sparkle to C2C 2019 at The O2 she's delivering additional delight to German country fans in Berlin. Now with the addition of Liv Austen & Laura Oakes - An already great night just got even better - Grab a ticket today!!! #SarahDarling #LivAusten #LauraOakes

Liv Austen Album Launch - Liv Austen , Clara Bond, Tally Spear - The Islington Metal works

Liv Austen Album Launch - Liv Austen , Clara Bond, Tally Spear - The Islington Metal works

The Islington Metal Works is a somewhat strange venue, as you enter from the street past the merchandise table on the right, the performance space is a rectangular room painted entirely in black and dimly lit, so dimly in fact that it takes more than a few moments to acclimatize and realise that the bar is located next door also discreetly hidden. We have gathered to witness the launch of Liv Austen's album "A Moment Of Your Time", there has already been a discreet playback

I'll Cover You - Liv Austen, Kaity Rae, Lisa Wright & Clara Bond - Hackney Empire Bar

I'll Cover You - Liv Austen, Kaity Rae, Lisa Wright & Clara Bond - Hackney Empire Bar

It’s tricky to know where to start on a review of this kind. First up this was, ostensibly, what is becoming a fairly common kind of gig in the UK in that it was a song-writers round. We were presented with four of our finest UK Americana artists, all on stage at the same time, with a couple of backing guitarists thrown in for good measure. Usually, in these situations the acts take it in turns to tell you a story about the songs they’ve chosen and then proceed to play it

Johnny Brady, Mairead, Liv Austen and Steve Young - The Water Rats

Johnny Brady, Mairead, Liv Austen and Steve Young - The Water Rats

Not usually a venue associated with this type of evening, tonight the Water Rats became a fully table/seated venue for this "In The Round" ‘unplugged’ event, hosted by Alice Amel. Sticking to the familiar ‘In The Round’ format, things kicked off with County Antrim born Johnny Brady. Johnny was probably the least well know artist in this songwriting group, Johnny is better known for his full band ‘Dance’ shows throughout Ireland, performing old and new covers, as well as his

Steve Young, Simon James, Hannah White, Ian Ingles, Liv Austen, Isabella Coulstock, Orfila - Maidsto

Steve Young, Simon James, Hannah White, Ian Ingles, Liv Austen, Isabella Coulstock, Orfila - Maidsto

Pizza Express are cropping up quite a bit recently as a live music destination, so when you’re presented with a bill of 7 acts and all proceeds for a good cause it was an opportunity too good to miss. In a rather cramped venue, and with food being served throughout, this could have proved a distraction to the main event. Thankfully the staff and diners were respectful of the artists and with our pizzas ordered the first 3 acts took to the stage for a Songwriter’s Round. St

Liv Austen The Big Entrance Stage C2C 2018

Liv Austen The Big Entrance Stage C2C 2018

Taking to the stage in a Gwen Steffani(esque) outfit was Liv Austen for whom 2018 promises much. With a batch of fine tunes and a label backing her as well as an extremely tight band thing started with surely what will be one of the stand out tracks on her debut album when it is released "Miss Nobody" which was a perfect set opener. The set was a taster for what is to come "Train Of Thought" was an excellent duet with her fiddle player. "Detour" with its fiddle and guitar in

Liv Austen, Natalie Shay, Sophie Kilburn The Bedford Balham

Liv Austen, Natalie Shay, Sophie Kilburn The Bedford Balham

Always pleasure to return the Bedford one of London's better venues whose stage has been graced by many a famous performer in the formative parts of their career. Even more amazingly the cost of entry for the show was merely to be silent while the acts were playing. Tonight's event seemed to be a showcase for 3 female singer songwriters and first to the stage was Sophie Kilburn from Derbyshire. I'm slightly loathe to try and pigeonhole Sophie into a genre, as although songs l

Liv Austen - Don't Regret A Single One

Liv Austen - Don't Regret A Single One

These are somewhat paradoxical times, on one hand Country music in the UK has never been more popular, access to local radio and BBC Introducing means that independent artists are able to progress to a certain level. To move to the next level of national airplay needs more polished production, bigger budgets and bizarrely most of the time, a move away from the sound that made the artist popular in the first place placing then into a melting pot where everything sounds depress

Songwriters Round - Liv Austen, Jeff Cohen, Beth Thornton - The Slaughtered Lamb

Songwriters Round - Liv Austen, Jeff Cohen, Beth Thornton - The Slaughtered Lamb

Never let it be said that Liv Austen is not the hardest working woman in UK country, as well singing she was also checking tickets, selling merchandise and running hospitality, it was small wonder that she wasn’t tweaking the sound and pulling a pint such was the myriad of roles being performed. Set up at relatively short notice, this gathering gave her the chance to air some material from her forthcoming album ahead of her new single being released, as well as a chance share

Liv Austen - The Next Time

Liv Austen - The Next Time

The first single from Liv's debut album to be released on Paul Hardcastles NUA Entertainment label. This song has been a firm live favourite in Liv's live set for some time now where the audience play a key supporting role. Sound wise it seems primed for radio, with an opening of a strumming electric guitar and just Liv's voice before it opens up into a perfect piece of pop music, with an unusual chorus in that the hook is based around a backing vocal. The three minutes give

Midwinterfest 2017

Midwinterfest 2017

Friday Overnight predictions of snowbound chaos proved to be unfounded as #Team W21 once again upped sticks and headed for Torquay for the years first major gathering of talent. Last year, the line-up was already pretty much familiar faces to us but this year was to be a voyage into the unknown for some of these names – fortunately it was to prove a pleasant trip! Midwinterfest 2017 perhaps buoyed by the success of 2016 was set to be the biggest yet with an extra 60 people ga

Megan O'Neill, Liv Austen, Claydon Connor, Pete Gardiner - The Troubadour

Megan O'Neill, Liv Austen, Claydon Connor, Pete Gardiner - The Troubadour

Providing the opening set of the evening fell to Pete Gardiner, a Northern Irish singer now based in London. If you appreciate wordplay then he could be your man, as most of the songs came with a lovely turn of phrase. There were a number of stand out songs “Ashtray Black” from his forthcoming album was one that immediately made an impact as did the closer “£10 In My Pocket & A Woman On My Mind”. He had a great sense of humour and got the evening off to a promising start. It