Were you charmed again by the Melbourne songbirds?

Charm Of Finches with support Mia Kelly
at Ace Space, Newbury
on Friday, June 21

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

Ace Space had an international flavour tonight as Mia Kelly from Quebec, Canada supported duo Charm of Finches, who hail from Australia.

This is Mia Kelly's first UK tour but in Canada she is very much a rising star having even represented Canada in the Francophone games in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She opened her 45 minute set with the title track of her current album Garden Through The War. Her vocals are powerful and her lyrics intelligent and well-observed. High quality contemporary folk music which draws on her experiences and feelings. Bonefish Boys tells the story of Mia's elderly neighbour while she stayed in Nicaragua, while Meaning Well describes the mixed emotions in a relationship breakdown. An excellent set.

Charm Of Finches, sisters, Ivy Windred-Wornes (keyboard) and Mabel (guitar) made a welcome return to Ace Space on what is now their third UK tour. Their contemporary folk is marked by intricate and beautiful harmonies and a fair bit of sisterly banter.

They opened with the excellent Atlantis, which was released at the end of last year, followed by Clean Cut and Temporary Home from their brand new album, the latter being inspired by a tour manager describing life on the road as 'a long series of goodbyes', a line that clearly struck a chord with the sisters.

Malinchen, the title track of their new album is a dark tale, drawn from a story by the Brothers Grimm, called The Juniper Tree, in which a sister buries the bones of her brother, who was murdered by their stepmother.

The well deserved encore track was the brilliant Wonderful Oblivion.

Ace Space was virtually sold out tonight and the audience were treated to two fine contemporary folk sets.

Excellent.