Annie goes great guns at ACE Space

Annie Keating, with support The Dreaming Spires

at Ace Space

on Saturday, October 4

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

THE Dreaming Spires were last minute replacements in the support slot tonight and without their keyboardist. They would normally be headliners and their sheer quality meant the lack of rehearsals and one of their members didn’t hold them back.

The timing was in some ways fortuitous for them as they have a new album about to be released after a 10-year hiatus.

Their 45-minute set of excellent Americana, with a retro feel was full of catchy riffs and upbeat tracks with a real feelgood factor.

They opened with Singing Sin City and Everything All The Time from their first album before giving the audience a taste of their forthcoming release in the form of their newest single Stolen Car and Normal Town, a track about Didcot, where they are based. They finished with We Used to Have Parties and Dusty in Memphis earning themselves both enthusiastic applause and praise and an invitation to return in February 2026.

During the interval I heard several people wondering whether Annie Keating could match or surpass the first half.

The answer was that she put on a very different, but totally brilliant set of Americana which ranged from boogie and strut, through rock ’n’ roll to riffs which, at times, could rival ZZ Top, full of great hook-lines which instantly had toes tapping and feet moving.

She opened with On The Road By 10, $20 and Third Street, before giving the audience a preview of Transatlantic Reverie a song which will feature in a Bob Harris radio show next month.

Annie’s music is not only full of intelligent, well-observed lyrics, occasional humour and social comment, but with infectious melodies which really get inside your head.

As a much demanded encore Annie called The Dreaming Spires back on stage for a fantastic cover version of The Weight, originally by The Band.

A great night of American-inspired music at ACE Space.