DESPITE it being a dull and rainy evening Boat to Row were able to offer some very welcome brightness on their first visit to the city.
The five-piece from Nuneaton were snugly shoehorned into the homely surrounds of the bar and breezed through a set of pastoral tinged ditties that were as intricate as they were infectious.
To lump them in with any folk movement, real or mythical, would be unfair and wide of the mark for theirs is an uplifting and atmospheric sound that grows beyond the boundaries of the genre.
A smattering of instrument swapping and much harmony sharing leant an appealing lushness to proceedings as thwacking and rattling drums provided a nicely ramshackle backing.
They blended banjo, guitar, bass, violin, trumpet, melodica, French horn and keys with great warmth as their contrasting, but sweetly delivered, vocals weaved and rose about them.
They even boast a claim, and possible fortune, thanks to bassist Billy’s connection to the Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce dynasty.
Earlier in the evening, Worcester’s own Richard Clarke stepped out for a solo performance without The Rafters, airing some chirpy tracks taken from his album Hidden In Between the Trees.
The simple and fragile Americana of Andy Oliveri then gave a sneak preview of what to expect from the headliners, with Boat to Row’s Mike and Billy adding extra layers to his stripped back arrangements.
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