Wednesday 21st April 2010 @ Colston Hall, Bristol
With Support From: Boy And Bear, Alessi’s Ark

She’s been the hot new musician to watch for several years now and with her second album out and a national tour that’s selling fast, it seems Laura Marling has now truly arrived and, on the strength of tonight’s performance, she is hear to stay.

With good warm-up slots from Aussie folkers Boy And Bear and the hypnotic Alessi’s Ark, things were shaping up well. There was still a slight air of concern around the Colston Hall though; isn’t being seated going to make everything feel a bit static? And how was the trademark intimacy of a Marling performance going to transmit to such a huge stage? Within moments of the band’s entrance though, it was clear any concerns were simply arbitrary. Marling and band marched out confidently to dimmed lights and wasted no time in bursting into Devil’s Spoke, the fast and gutsy opening track off her new album, I Speak Because I Can. Backed by drums, cello, bass and a certain Pete “true Bristolian” Roe on keyboard, Marling had a real presence on stage, her set up and undeniable talent easily justifying the size of venue she had sold out.

The audience weren’t denied the chance to hear Marling perform her work solo either and were treated to a truly mesmeric 6 or so songs in the middle of the set where her charm and quality really shone through. Some old fan favourites and a couple of new tunes were beautifully performed but particularly stunning tonight was her rendition of Goodbye England (Covered In Snow). Marling shared with the crowd a touching story from her childhood that had inspired the song about missing home and it was also given additional resonance considering how much she’s been touring abroad recently.

During the evening, another of Marling’s anecdotes led her to reveal that her first ever gig was actually in this very venue – Ryan Adams nearly 10 years previously! – and it gave yet another added edge to one of, if not the, best gig I’ve been to in several years. The show was an assured, flawless and truly inspiring performance from a truly magical talent who we will no doubt be seeing more and more of in the future.

www.lauramarling.com

Matthew Whittle www.matthewwhittleblog.blogspot.com
Photos by Sophie Collard