Tonight, The Forum offered an intimate setting of tables, chairs and a crowd of just over 50 people, creating the perfect atmosphere for an evening that delivered energy and exceptional musicianship from start to finish.
Support came from two artists well worth discovering. Izzy Neish opened with a mesmerising clarinet performance – hypnotic hardly does it justice; it felt more like being wrapped in a warm, meditative blanket. She then moved effortlessly between guitar and saxophone, delivering a quirky, nature-inspired set full of charm and originality. Her closing song, ‘We Are Children’, was simply beautiful.
Anna Karila followed with her stunning vocals, remarkable guitar playing and sharp observational songwriting. Catch her before she heads to Paris to continue her studies.
Stockton’s Andrew Johnson then took to the stage with a full band, performing a selection of hand-picked back catalogue songs that had never previously been played live with a band. The set shifted seamlessly between punk-infused social commentary and melodic moments, culminating in ‘Temple of Love’, with Izzy returning on saxophone, the audience on their feet and an unexpected burst of participatory choreography bringing the evening to a memorable close.
