Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage – Stoller Hall, Manchester – Saturday 11th October 2025

NEW SONGS & OLD CHESTNUTS

Just about a week ahead of the release of their new album, The Strangers’ Shore (review incoming…), Hannah and Ben return to the intimate Carole Nash Hall for an intimate evening to showcase an (intimate) new set of songs along with “some old chestnuts.” The latter term might seem strange given Ben’s remark about the chance meeting between the duo being a mere ten years or so ago, yet the duo has built up quite some reputation and repertoire.

CHESTNUTS

It’s a ‘hello again’ opening that sees the opening sequence following a trusted songpath. After a year playing with the In The Dark We Grow Band, they return to the format with which they made their mark; the pair not quite huddled around, more in the the vicinity of, a single mic. There are huge stadium filling bands (see U2 and AC/DC) who humbly (or not so humbly) occupy a similar onstage space that defies the size of their mass marketed events but with significantly less grace. For H&B, it’s a space for which the phrase ‘turn on a sixpence’ was invented.

As they sing of castles, kings and long Winter nights, pretty little girls who break your heart and as always, their expressions confirm the joy they create and feel. Ben seems pretty well warmed up, heading off into some solo passages as the songs swing and as he gets almost carried away at the start of Polly O Polly, Hannah can’t help but grin. “I promise it won’t get any more exciting than that,” she apologies at the end of the latter before adding how she always wants to laugh at the end despite being a despicable murder ballad. “Don’t do what we sing about,” is the disclaimer. “Use the wisdom.”

PANT SWINGING FUN

The roots and messages of their first album are visited regularly. Sun Is Gonna Rise, “a song of hope” (which is, of course, how Robert Plant introduces Stairway in The Song Remains The Same), Ribbons And Bows and Deep Blue Sea are all welcomed back with a bretah of nostalgia even though it’s been only ten years. The latter two being in the ‘worth the ticket price alone’ class, Ribbons… seems to have been given a sprightly, brighter feel (if that’s possible for “the cheeriest song about dying”) while Deep Blue… used as an parting gift with Ben on the electric Fender puts the seal on an evening of sublimity.

A Thousand New Moons might rival I Gave My Love A Cherry (“just another rock and roll song about sex“) as a signature song, but for a simple rollicking singalong few minutes, adding I’ll Be So Glad When I Get Home is a clever turn. Short of crying ‘Hallelujah!’ and rising from our seats, arms waving and clapping – the Stoller is much too classy for such a show of spirit – it’s a real chair dancing, toe tapper of a gospel nature. The mood of subtlety and poignancy is briefly parked for some pant swinging fun where the guitar necks point to the ceiling in the style of Bill Wyman in the early days of the Stones.

straight FROM THE STRANGERS’ SHORE

Meanwhile, there are new songs to bring to the party. The theme of dreams and the supernatural is always a winner. A theme applied to a healthy selection of new songs that formed the spine of the set. The journey of the new songs as they find their place in the set is a fascinating one. Morning Stands On Tiptoe might rival Ribbons And Bows for liveliness while the airy and lighter flavor of Magicians with its shapeshifting connotations could easily morph its way into a Kate Rusby set. And it’s delivered with the grace of swans in flight of the lyric.

On the other side of the coin, Lowlands Away and Dylan’s North Country Blues dip into territory where the poignancy and depth of solemnity is marked. File alongside A-Life A-Lie for thought provoking moments. Acknowledging the likes of Lal Waterson, and dipping into the spooky yet sad nightvisiting areas is a reminder of the duo’s ability to interpret with a rare skill and magic as well as craft their own songs – the boundaries are blurred.

Lasting thoughts have us drifting back to the ten years of Sanders and Savage as a going concern and indeed, back to their Before The Sun debut. One from which a handful of tonight’s highlights is drawn and one where they talk about duet singing being the mainstay of Folk music. A simple remark in the album booklet, yet one that still remains resolutely authentic.

Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage online: Website / Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / Instagram

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