Will Varley + I Said Goodbye + Ailbhe Reddy

Lizz Page 12 October 2018

It’s a modest but enthusiastic audience of all ages at Epic as local act I Said Goodbye, first support of the evening take the stage. Usually a band, this guitar playing duo flounders rather due to technical difficulties throughout their set. Musically it’s somewhere between folk and pop-punk, and these songs are a little samey but well-written lyrically.

Second support Irish singer songwriter Ailbhe Reddy wows the crowd with her tender yet powerful songs of lost love, yearning and the search for self through growth. Her voice and guitar playing is astounding, somewhere between Laura Marling and Regina Spector - in between her songs she’s funny, personable and very confident in speaking with the crowd. There are even a few people standing to clap at the end of her set - definitely one to watch.

Modern folk gent Will Varley’s fifth album came out earlier this year, and tonight was the first night of a solo tour around the UK. Armed with a guitar and a can of Strongbow he entertains us for an hour and a half with his rich, gruff voice, spot on timing and clever, beautiful songs. He’s very funny in between songs, sometimes even breaking off midway through a song to talk about it - such a likeable guy. Referencing Brexit, Trump, Dylan, the nature of time, social history, refugees, and how to find your place in the world. There are many in the seated crowd singing along from a white haired elderly gentleman to a teen with a meet-you-at-MacDonalds haircut. There’s nothing as powerful as a human being speaking their truth, and songs like the mysical Spirit Of Minnie, the wistful From Halcyon, and the passionate Seize The Night pack an enormous punch. Finishing up with the hilarious I Sent An Email, he thanks us for a splendid first night of his tour, and we respond with much applause. Nice one Will Varley.