Why opt for unoriginal, slavish recreations of other people’s music when there’s vibrant, original music on offer?

Annie Keating

at The Forge, Basingstoke

on Thursday, October 3

Review by STEPHEN OTTNER

FOR those who like their Americana music on the rocky side the place to be was The Forge, in Basingstoke, last Thursday to see Annie Keating.

Brooklyn-based Annie is a regular visitor to these shores, where she tours with her UK-based band.

She revealed that she enjoys touring this country because the audiences here are so attentive and respectful compared to those in the US.

There was good variety in pace and mood in songs inspired by everyday occurrences. Annie also engaged her audience with her stories between them.

Throughout the evening she played her vintage 1939 Gibson.

Annie recalled a tale of her teenage years when she failed to get a ticket for a Neil Young gig. She paid a taxi driver $20 to drive backstage with Annie under a blanket and her guitar on top. The taxi driver said he was delivering a guitar for Mr Young and Annie got to see the concert from the side of the stage.

Fitting a four-piece band, complete with drum kit and double bass, on to the narrow, shelf-like Forge stage left barely any space for the musicians to move but that certainly didn’t inhibit the delivery of the songs.

The band consisted of Joe Coombs (electric and acoustic guitars), Jammie Dawson (drums) and Scott Warman (electric and double bass).

Even though the band members are UK based and only play with Annie on this side of the Atlantic, the musical chemistry between them was plainly evident and a delight to witness.

Both Scott and Jammie have played ACE Space with other bands, and both have been guests on Kennet Radio’s Folk Ace programme. Annie will be at ACE Space in early October next year.

Anvil Arts should be applauded for their support of Americana, folk and World Music when most other art centres around us seem to be abandoning such music in favour of tribute bands.

While Annie Keating was playing to less than 100 in The Forge, the Illegal Eagles were playing to hundreds in the main auditorium. It remains a mystery to this reviewer why more people opt for unoriginal, slavish recreations of other people’s music when there’s vibrant, original music on offer of superb quality at half the price in more intimate settings.