Bess Atwell likes cats and a feline stars on the cover of her LP ‘Already, Always’.
The Brighton-based songwriter produces music which purrs a soulful serenity that’s high on heartbreak.
Her songs make you want to curl-up like a house cat in front of a crackling fire while a storm rages outside.
And there are gales outside Lancaster Library as support Almahata takes to the stage. Her dreamy folk acoustic music goes down a treat and needs further investigation.
Meanwhile a dragon is battling gusts as Chinese New Year celebrations reach a rainy climax in the city centre.
It’s the Year of the Tiger – a big cat that embodies courage and bravery.
And there’s a supernatural power to Bess Atwell’s spellbinding songwriting.
She’s on stage on a Sunday at 3.30pm. Her final gig of her winter tour is a matinee in a library – and it seems like the most natural thing ever.
Atwell has clever guitar hooks, intimate emotional lyrics, and melodies which really hit home.
Close your eyes and you might be listening to Lana Del Ray meets London Grammar.
Multi-instrumentalist Christopher Matthewson adds dreamy guitar with a hint of Dire Straits.
His keyboard work wouldn’t be out of place on a Thomas Newman movie soundtrack.
There’s a homely set-up on stage. Atwell has a table with lamp and mug of tea. Matthewson looks like he’s got slippers on until closer inspection reveals he’s in sandals and socks. And it just rocks.
Songs ‘All You Can Do’ and ‘How Do You Leave Somebody You Love’ are standouts.
There’s a cover of ‘Downtown Lights’ by The Blue Nile released some 33-years-ago.
Atwell delivers a stunning set against a backdrop of hundreds of books.
One book cover keeps staring out at me: “Ice Cream Star”.
It’s like a metaphor for the Cool For Cats magic we’ve just witnessed.
(Bess Atwell was performing as part of the wonderful Get It Loud in Libraries programme. Check out future gigs: www.getitloudinlibraries.com. Find out more about Bess Atwell: www.bessatwell.com)