Exploring Birdsong, Toria Wooff – The Deaf Institute, Manchester – Saturday 22nd June 2024

We’ve followed Exploring Birdsong since their early days and have proudly seen them adopted by PROG magazine as one of the best emerging bands. Deservedly given headline billing at the Deaf Institute, we were treated to one of the best EB performances I’ve seen since ATB first met drummer Matt Harrison in a bar up RIvington in Christmas  2019.

Unfortunately  we only caught the end of a clearly  heavily influenced Coldplay outfit who offered a lively opening to the evening with an interesting synthesised touch to the lead vocalist. However an additional and welcome surprise (we’re well aware of her work having seen her play The Met in Bury in one of their emerging showcases) was Horwich born talented singer songwriter Toria Wooff. 

Her haunting vocals  on her folky country nuanced songs were a sheer delight. Her bubbly personality quickly endeared her to the audience  as she introduced songs dedicated to friends ( Mountain) and inspired by film viewing (House On The Hill). Her songs were sometimes jaunty , sometimes soulful and sensitive. We’re looking forward to covering her soon to be released album.  Most of the songs she sang are on the album and if they are  of the quality of Thats What Falling In Love Will Do we are in for a treat.  Her Dad told me she is much travelled locally and around the Chester area and she told me she is preparing for a gig in London. One of the most notable elements of her performance was her astute use of the microphone, which enhanced her vocals and showed a maturity of performing skills beyond her years. She would be a much welcome presence on the folk scene, clubs and festivals , but her songs would be popular whatever niche she chooses for herself. Good luck Toria ATB will continue to be rooting for you.

Thunder rolled and the mist wafted across the stage rather like an autumnal Rivington scene swallowing up the Pike as the lights dimmed over the expectant audience anticipating a rare live performance from Exploring Birdsong. What an incredible change from when I  first saw Exploring Birdsong at Satan’s Hollow pre-lockdown. Their shortened set that night was greeted with what can only be called passive appreciation, whilst recognising their performance the static audience applauded with polite approval but at the packed out Deaf  Institute there was swaying, bouncing, raucous cheering , clapping and even dancing. Clearly the talented trio are amassing an appreciative following as well as attracting new fans to their unique brand of  dynamic prog.  One audience member was still ‘buzzing’ the next day after being introduced to the EB experience. 

Nobody missed the complex lead guitar solos usually considered de rigeur in Prog  but all the  intricate fretwork was left to Johnny Knight’s nimble fingers on bass. With only 2 EP/ short LP recordings under their belt they make up in quality for what they have released in quantity and tonight we were treated to a healthy helping from  both Thing With Feathers and Dancing In The Face Of Danger.

Amongst their newer music is the recently released Turntail, which has undergone development from Feathers days and is another example of their rapidly developing, unique instantly recognisable sound.

Lindsey is establishing herself as one of the top vocalists in Prog circles but in my reckoning rivals many a vocalist in any musical genre. Her spectacular vocals are bewitching, ethereal  and soulful. She is the perfect lead to this far from typical rock band who are gradually elevating themselves into a unique unit  with wide musical barriers; sometimes ambient and dreamy then pepper us with unashamed pulsating collision bound rock. The sometimes tricky time signatures are driven along by Matt’s forceful vibrant, romping percussion  which impressed his once drum tutor stood behind me (although he was less impressed with his dancing antics!). There was not a superfluous note, which is rare for prog groups, amongst their diverse and rich sounding music, and are a  a breath of fresh air on the whole British music scene.

Their accomplished  performance wasn’t thrown when a technical glitch involving Jonny communicating with the sound engineers halted proceedings and showed their improvement in their confident stage presence. Mind you,playing to a large audience at last years Radar festival must have helped so lets up hope their recognition follows a similar  path as one of that festival’s headliners, Sleep Token. I see no reason why they can’t.

Exploring Birdsong online: Bandcamp / Twitter / Facebook

Toria Wooff online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bandcamp / Youtube

Keep up with At The Barrier: Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / Instagram / Spotify / YouTube