Starsailor frontman, James Walsh, headlines the ever popular Early Doors Club in Tyldesley. Bek Jones is on hand in support.

THE EARLY DOORS CLUB

For those in attendance at St George’s Church, an evening of high quality acoustic music was on the cards. This show was the final Early Doors Club event of the current season.

Many solo artists have performed at the excellent EDC events this year amongst them blues singer Sandi Thom, Bluteones’ Mark Morris and Seahorses’ Chris Helm. On this night it was the turn of Chorley born James Walsh, lead singer of the highly acclaimed indie band, Starsailor; a band we have already seen live this year in Liverpool (review here).

BEK JONES

There was a splendid warm up performance from local lady Bek Jones. Jones is gaining a reputation as a top quality solo acoustic performer with her self penned songs and own arrangements of well known songs. Stevie Nicks’ Landslide is slowed down in tempo and a personal touch is added to Cher’s Bang Bang in which Jones cleverly built up the dynamics and tempo as the song reached its climax

Both were delivered with reverence and respect to the originals whilst excellently putting her own stamp on them. Jones is a talented songwriter too, and gave us some of her personal favourites. Games, Why Can’t You See, Woman and her newest offering Changed.

JAMES WALSH

The excellent acoustics of St George’s has been applauded by many artists; none more so than tonight’s headliner. Walsh’s wide octave ranging vocals are ideally suited for this venue. His masterful vocal resounds warmly from the wooden panelled ceiling.

His one hour set whizzed by. We were treated to some of his long standing solo and Starsailor. Shadows, Tulips, Alcoholic, Greatest Story Never Told, Tell Me It’s Not Over and Silence Is Easy are all aired. There was also plenty of time for new material from his latest EP, Renewal, all of which have a strong emotional punch.

COVERS

With all these amazing songs you wouldn’t have thought there was any need for covers. Yet he applauded the resurgence in interest of Bob Dylan through the lauded biopic A Complete Unknown. Walsh celebrated this with an excellent rendition of Just Like A Woman, which matched Timothy Chalamet’s film version as well as Dylan’s original.

James said that this was his first time performing here, although his years studying music at nearby Wigan and Leigh college revealed his local links. Starsailor fans in the audience, of which there were many, did not waste an opportunity to accompany James by singing along or clapping. Some were even dancing in the pews!

OLD/NEW FANS

I have to admit, somewhat shamefacedly, that I was not very familiar with James’ or Starsailor material. As with all the previous EDC evenings, I have been fortunate enough to attend. The intimacy of the evening not only makes you want to delve more into discovering more, but satisfies those who are avid fans.

Finally, a few words of praise for the Early Doors Club team. They rely on funding to arrange the excellent events at various venues within the locale. They deserve every ounce of support so that they can receive enough funding to plan more events later in the year.

You can find out more about The Early Doors Club by following their Facebook page here.

James Walsh: Bandcamp / Instagram

Bek Jones: Facebook / Instagram

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