Dickie Felton | 22 September | 2023
Brigid Mae Power is producing the most important music of our times on a guitar that’s 81-years-old.
She had the 1942 tenor lovingly restored and modified with an extra string.
The vintage piece adds to the timeless wonder of Power’s set at Kendal’s Brewery Arts Centre.
It’s the opening date of her tour and it’s miraculous the Irish songwriter has made it to Cumbria at all.
Her van is playing up. She bought it recently to get around eight dates in the UK and Ireland.
And the troublesome transit made for a ‘stressful’ 170 mile drive from Holyhead to Kendal.
Transport worries aside, Power produces a flawless and fabulous opening night.
Two songs in she performs a record from 60-years-ago – a dreamy version of Patsy Cline’s heartbreaking ‘Leavin’ on Your Mind’.
But most of tonight’s tracks are from the Galway-based songwriter’s new album ‘Dream From the Deep Well’.
The record is haunting and mesmerising. Best listened to inside a warm home while a wild winter storm rages outside.
Power asks the mixing desk to turn up the reverb on one song to big-up an Americana feel to the whole proceedings.
‘Wedding of a Friend’ from 2020 album ‘Head Above The Water’ sounds both hymn-like and joyous.
The Cumbrian crowd are awestruck in their cabaret-style seating.
Power’s voice is edgy and almost fragile.
She is on stage with a percussionist who plays with trance-like perfection.
And they create a sound that is just beautiful.
Power ends with ‘Counting Down’ – her gorgeous new single about long-distance loneliness and homesickness.
You should catch her live in concert – before her van conks out or she bolts back to Galway…