Music

The Tin Shed near Mold is an eccentric and captivating music venue that hosted an unforgettable concert last Sunday afternoon.

David Starr, a talented American singer-songwriter, performed at the venue for the third time, bringing his uplifting music to a sold-out crowd of 50 people.

The concert was not only a musical delight but also a charitable event to support children caught up in the refugee crisis. The organizers, Louise Edwards and her husband Gareth collected money for the cause, and David generously offered to donate his fee as well. As a result, the charity benefited from a total of £700, which will be used to buy clothes and shoes for refugee children.

David Starr’s music is captivating and full of emotion, which has earned him the praise of industry giants like John Oats of Hall and Oats. As John once said, “His music is authentic, his songs are honest, full of emotion and truth. A voice you will never forget.”

During the concert, David was joined by mandolin player Erik Stucky, adding another layer of depth to his already compelling performance.

David’s connection with The Tin Shed runs deep, and even during the lockdown, he performed an online fundraising concert for the venue.

The concert ended with a standing ovation and an encore, leaving the audience wanting more. David expressed his love for performing in such intimate venues and asked the crowd if they would have him back next year, to which the answer was a resounding YES!

Overall, it was an unforgettable afternoon of excellent music that raised everyone’s spirits and a lot of desperately needed money for a great cause.

I highly recommend attending one of David Starr’s concerts if you have the opportunity.

His 2023 UK tour continues with appearances at various locations, including Grateful Fred’s in Southport on May 3rd, The Georgian Hotel in Coatbridge on May 4th, Crystal House Strathpeffer on May 5th, and The Invernairne in Nairn on May 6th.

“Two of Us” at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre is a phenomenal show that celebrates the iconic songwriting partnership of Lennon and McCartney. Starring Mark Newnham and Tom Connor, who gave very convincing performances as the legendary duo, the show takes audiences on a journey from the early Beatles hits like “Please Please Me” and “Love Me Do” through to their rooftop concert, showcasing the band’s journey from Liverpool to America and to the East during their psychedelic period. The story of the eventual breakup of the Beatles is also skilfully weaved into the performance, providing a well-rounded and emotive experience.

The musical performances were exceptional, and apart from the lack of screaming teenagers, it was almost like being at an actual Beatles concert. The audience was treated to gentle ballads like McCartney’s “Yesterday” and Lennon’s “Julia,” which were performed with great sensitivity and emotion. The show also has roof-raising numbers such as “Revolution” and “A Day in the Life,” which have the lovely art deco theatre echoing back to its rock concert heyday. The excellent band featuring Ben Gladwin on Keyboard, Greg Joy on drums, Adam Keast on bass, and Mike Woodvine on guitar, all talented musicians in their own right, was a true asset to the production.

One standout performer was the ambidextrous Tom Connor, who showed off his impressive skills by playing the piano, as well as the left-handed Höfner bass and regular right-handed six-string acoustic guitar. The musical direction by Howard Grey was spot-on, and the show was expertly directed by Bob Eaton, bringing the story of Lennon and McCartney to life in a way that was both touching and entertaining.

In conclusion, “Two of Us” is an outstanding tribute to the iconic Beatles duo, Lennon and McCartney, not to be missed. The production showcases their legendary music and provides a glimpse into the personalities behind the music, highlighting their friendship and eventual split.

The exceptional performances and outstanding musicianship, combined with the great direction, makes for an unforgettable experience that will warm the heart of any Beatles fan and be remembered for years to come.

The show runs until 25^th February. Tickets cost from £15 and are available from the box office or online.

Possibly one of the most unlikely settings for a concert, yet one with its own special brand of magic is the Woodland Skills Centre at Bodfari, North Wales.

When the weather is good, these great little intimate gigs are held acoustically, outdoors, in a beautiful woodland setting. Last Saturday the weather was not good but refusing to allow rain to stop play, the centre’s director Rod Waterfield (above) had one of the workshops cleared to accommodate a stage and an audience of 50 or more music lovers.

The evening began with a 40 minute set by Denbigh’s Penni Neale. Apart from a few floor spots at her local folk and acoustic club, Ruthin AllStyles, it was Penni’s first public performance since before the pandemic. She used the opportunity to air some of the amazing songs she had written during the lockdown, one of them being her beautiful and poignant song about the lockdown, “Ring a Ring a Rosey”. She also treated us to a couple of covers, including the very funny “Please Tell Me If I Start to Say The Same Thing Twice”.

Then it was over to Jackson Williams for the second and third segments of the evening. This talented duo from Melin-y-Wig, comprising guitar maestro Skeet Williams and vocalist Deborah Jackson, thrilled and entertained with songs off their 2020 debut album, “Venus and The Crescent Moon”.  And then, proving that they spent their lockdown months wisely and productively, we were treated to a glimpse of some of the fabulous songs destined to be on their next, as yet unnamed, album.

Just as we thought the evening could not get any better, the pair answered the calls for “more” with an excellent cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic, “Dreams” with captivating vocals from the lovely Deborah, that would give Stevie Nicks a run for her money.

The centre’s next events are Ivan Campo on September 4th and Little Sparrow on October 8th.

Sound man, Gary Edward Jones at the controls.