Soaring vocals and low-down, dirty guitar licks: 100% When Rivers Meet

When Rivers Meet, support from Troy Redfern , at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore, on Saturday, April 30. Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

Troy Redfern is billed as Britain’s King Of The Slide Guitar and has recently been touring as the opening act supporting The Sweet on their UK tour. His brief 30 minute solo set, part of which was played on a wonderful 1929 National triolian resonator steel guitar, was a banging example of the art of slide and of using loops to accompany himself.

Opening with Scorpio, from his Fire Cosmic album, he maintained a wall of sound style and included his cover of John The Revelator, a Blind Willie Johnson track originally recorded in 1930. My only criticism would be that this short set lacked the variation and the highs and lows of his recorded work.

When Rivers Meet are finally getting the recognition they so richly deserve. Built around the talents of husband and wife duo Grace and Aaron Bond, but appearing tonight as a full four-piece band, they instantly had a packed Arlington Arts rocking. They are currently being heavily promoted on Planet Rock radio and won a best album award there, beating out the likes of Iron Maiden. Not many bands can lay claim to that kind of accolade.

Opening with Did I Break The Law from their excellent 2020 album We Fly Free their energy and excitement was a joy to behold. Grace’s phenomenally powerful, soaring vocals are stunning and counterpoint Aaron’s low-down, dirty guitar licks perfectly. With barely a pause they continued with Walking On The Wire.

I loved I Can’t Fight This Feeling and the anthemic Bury My Body. We Fly Free was amazing and their superbly crafted set ended with an enthusiastically demanded two song encore comprising of Never Coming Home and Testify.

When Rivers Meet are undeniably a band on the rise.

If you love Americana blues rock with driving beats you really should see them live.

They give 100 per cent in their shows.

Great stuff.