Having experienced hundreds of live shows over the years, in all that time, I could probably count on one hand the number of occasions a band or performer failed to return stage front for an encore. That was until, the spiteful armoured bollock Covid wreaked its havoc, with every post pandemic gig I’ve attended since, suddenly bereft of an encore.
Fortunately that changed tonight as local troubadour Billie Marten returned for a delightful denouement, performing ‘Liquid Love’ and ‘I Can’t Get My Head Around U’, capping a quietly assured set of unassuming yet lovingly tooled songs, lamenting love and loss, the packed Brudenell throng wrapped around the Yorkshire lass’s little finger throughout.
Originally asked to play The Stylus, their loss was Brudenell’s gain, the famed social club’s new second room providing the perfect level of intimacy, the ideal complement for Marten’s delicate vocal. Tonight she’s flanked by a quartet, giving her folky musings just enough oomph to nicely fill the venue.
Drawing heavily from fine current long player ‘Drop Cherries’, released on Fiction Records, Marten gets things gently underway with ‘This is how we move’ and the eerily detached ‘Just Us’. These are soon followed by ‘Willow’ and ‘Arrows’ although the sublime ‘Betsy’ from an earlier Marten release, punctuates things perfectly.
As her band members depart, leaving Marten seemingly naked, save her guitar, the divine ‘Vanilla Baby’ fills the void. Marten’s effortless and tender vocal cuts through the rapt silence like a knife. Indeed Marten’s could be one of the loveliest voices I’ve ever heard fill the Brudenell rafters, lush, breathless yet simultaneously crystal clear whilst never having to try too hard.
Playing debut album favourite ‘Milk and Honey’ by request, the throng sing back the chorus line “All You Want is Honey”. The achingly beautiful ‘Toulouse’ proves a joy before the main set concludes with Marten switching to keys for the loved up ‘I Bend to Him’ and ‘Nothing But Mine’ before the aforementioned encore.
Surprised and delighted in equal measure.
Words - Michael Price
Billie Marten official