In the small backroom of the Gosforth Civic Theatre , we had the eagerly anticipated late summer return of Jumpin Hot Club with a lovely double header. Two acclaimed singer songwriters, both with a sweet country folk vibe.
Smartly turned out in dress trousers and patterned top, local’ish songstress Elaine Palmer played her smart & catchy tunes, solo rather than with her occasional cellist. Her songs from adventures on the highway as far as the American Midwest , enthralled the audience in this the first of three dates with fellow songstress Anna Ash. From Los Angeles, Anna had the west coast feel to all her music and a high and strong voice too. Blending songs from all her works, some highlighting the natural disasters such as “LA flame” and “Earthquake” but others, like the title track of her new album “Floodlight “ taking you on an insiders trip around LA. Everyday events such as the surreal sight of a film set lit by powerful Arc lights as Anna drove home. Anna warmed the cosy audience with her rambles and another tale of playing a risqué but soulful Lucinda Williams song to all her family group on Zoom, that they loved but she found extremely strange…. then of course, she finished her set with it “ Fruits Of My Labor”. It was an evening to relish in great music and meeting up with fellow Jumping Hot Club regulars that’s been sadly missed for quite a while.
Juan Fitzgerald (Pics too)