Dreams Music Promotions presents Eliza Shaddad, and Milly Hirst at The Bicycle Shop, Norwich 19 April 2016
Originally scheduled to take place at The Octagon Chapel this gig was moved to the smaller but beautiful, atmospheric and characterful Handlebar downstairs at The Bicycle Shop where I saw Milly Hirst with Eastern Seaboard earlier this month. Happily, Milly was also supporting tonight in a very good match with Eliza Shaddad. Milly’s set was as beautiful and captivating as ever featuring several of the new songs she has been playing of late, one of which was performed acapella giving it something of a haunting Celtic feel and was a highlight of the set amongst more familiar favourites like Kampala Roads, I Still, Book or a Film, and the masterpiece Mary. Milly is currently in the process of recording an album. I can hardly wait for it.
I’d never seen Eliza Shaddad before but had heard some of her songs via the medium of YouTube and enjoyed what I heard and found she was even better live. I gather this was a more pared down affair than their typical shows due to the venue change but it still worked extremely well. Playing for an hour or more and with a presence that exuded positivity, full of smiles between songs, balancing some of the darker themes within them. She clearly enjoyed the intimacy of the Bicycle Shop and its attentive audience which had just about filled the place, joking between songs and delivering the guitar-driven songs themselves flawlessly and with much atmosphere. There was a full band with drum kit tonight and the sound was typically gorgeous, Eliza’s pure and clear vocals over biting electric guitar, bass and drums. Warning us that she doesn’t do encores the band closed with “our most upbeat number, it’s about death” and left to loud and warm, prolonged applause. A highly impressive and captivating set to close a night of great music. Both singers have lovely, pure and clear voices perfect for their storytelling.
Their merch stall was beautiful, I chose the clear-vinyl version of the EP.
Many thanks to Ian of Dreams Music, Milly, and Eliza Shaddad.
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Norwich: Music City, UK 