Out and About With…Jessie Reid
Gig Review
18th November 2022, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
Photos by Paul Reynolds Written by Luke Knowles
Since the first moment I came across a video of Jessie Reid performing her percussive style of guitar, I knew I was watching a talent. An artist who wove honesty and beauty in her songs. Not to long after this I was able to watch Jessie perform in Birmingham and I was able to confirm that this was a musician who is destined for bigger and better things. Within the last year alone she released her debut EP, received a spot on an editorial playlist and performed a live set in New York, USA. Even now, she is hard at work on her second EP due for release next year. So rightfully so, when she told me she would be playing in Brum before the year ends, I made sure to clear my schedule. Am I glad I did….
Arriving at the venue I had a quick chance to take in The Sunflower Lounge’s newly embraced 60’s decor and energy. While much hadn’t changed structurally the place did feel a lot brighter and warmer in tone. Anyway, not here to discuss decorations styles, we’re here for music. So, I grabbed a drink and headed downstairs just in time for the first act to take to the stage.
First up to the stage, armed with a keyboard and an amazing set of lungs was the talented Redwood. I’d not expected to see her tonight but it turned out that the posters had used her given name and not her stage name. This did throw me for a moment as I recognised the voice but not the name. However after several songs that blew me away in their power and emotional range she began to play Honey Sauce and it all clicked into place. Identity confirmed for myself I immersed myself into the rest of her set and fell in love with her voice all over again. Redwood herself even passed a joke about having an identity crisis as to what her name should be moving forwards.
Each song was delivered with grace and despite a hint of nerves around the edges she nailed every delivery and seamlessly passed through any hesitations as she found her feet during the first few tracks. The gathered audience were treated to several brand new songs that personally I can’t wait to be released so the rest of the world can hear them. It was all there, her picturesque songwriting, her subtle melodies and her broad coral range. What was also nice is hearing how from the time I was introduced to her music back in 2020, was to hear how much her talent had evolved while still keeping the character that had drawn me to her and her music in the first place. It was another fantastic set that drew a lot of love from the people watching.
Next to take to the stage was an artist I had been meaning to not only see live but also work with in the past but never found our diaries matching. Midge took up her acoustic guitar and eased into her first song with a practiced ease. I’d heard clips of her songs from social media and listened happily to hear through my headphones but there was something so haunting about her performance that night that gave me a whole new appreciation for her as an artist. Much like Redwood before her, Midge carried a sonic honesty that would be the back bone of the evening. As she sung I was reminded of late 50’s early 60’s folk music. Delicate tones with a brittle edge.
Each song was coated in lovely moments of light and shade. As the set moved forwards you could tell she was more and more comfortable in the space and was planning to leave nothing behind once she had plucked her final note. Writing this now I even remember a moment when she was playing that I felt myself swept up in the music. I honestly felt myself snap back to reality at the end of the song. Again this moment that her music stirred up was something I found across the whole night. Sadly, like most good things her set came to an end and she departed on a high note and to warmth from the audience.
Moments later it was time for me to have the chance to discover someone new in person. ST Manville was a name (sadly I now know) that I didn’t know before tonights show. After it though it is one I won’t forget. Taking a seat he began picking his guitar and weaved a tapestry of bitter sweet moments into my ears. Being a Birmingham Native but no longer living in the city I really felt him reeling and soaking up his hometowns warm welcome as he played. Each song was greeted by loud applause and his easy going nature on stage endeared him to the hungry audience. Through a mix of old songs and brand new ones, he proved himself a notable songwriter. His imagery and delivery was on a par with the likes of Foy Vance and Damien Rice.
ST Manville even treated us all to his first live attempt at whistling during one of his newer songs. It was brilliant. I got the feeling of everyone enjoying and sharing this vulnerable moment with him on stage and it made it all the more special. I even swear I heard a few people joining in and one person attempting a whistle harmony. Even with the occasional bleed in from the party upstairs in the main bar, ST Manville managed to cocoon the audience in his world and captivate their attention, at least from where I was standing, for the entirety of his set.;
Now was the moment I had made the journey for (he says as though it is a huge journey). Jessie Reid made her way to the stage and was joined this time around by two other equally talented musicians. On backing vocals was Eva Rae Rose who’s voice effortlessly combined with Jessie’s to create beautiful harmonies and then on the Fiddle was a new member of Jessies ever growing musical family, Essa Flett. Traveling all the way from Scotland Essa performed a magical bit of fiddle work across all of the songs, including Jessie’s opening instrumental number. While a sight to behold when played solo the addition of Essa’s little flourishes and haunting spikes elevated it all to a new range of enjoyment. It would only be while talking to Jessie after the show that I’d find out that they hadn’t had a chance to practice together fully and most of what Essa performed was all her own invention. It was fantastic and we were even treated to an original fiddle instrumental from Essa part way through the set.
As she warmed up the nerves Jessie seem to be feeling slowly edged themselves out of her and she allowed herself to get lost in her own music. There is always such a look of humble joy on her face whenever she finishes a song and the room explodes in applause. For someone with so much talent she isn’t the first to shout about it and that only endears me to her journey even more. Every song was delivered with a delicacy characteristic of her sound and once again I was blown away by her ability to do ten things at once on the guitar and still manage to singe all at the same time. The percussion, the harmonics, the picking, all of it was on pointing she made it look so effortless. As she allowed the final note of her last song get swallowed by the applause a shout went out for more and there was a brief moment of surprise from Jessie before she took a seat and blew us all away one final time.
Overall, this gig was a night to remember for so many reasons. Each act brought their A game and left nothing behind them on the stage. They each paid respect to the act before them and effortlessly built an atmosphere of familiar warmth in that little basement that I was happy to be a part of. If you do get the opportunity to see any of these acts, take it! Also be sure to keep an eye out for Jessie as it won’t be too long before she is moving up to bigger venues and intimate sets like this will be rarer but all the more richer for it.
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