Kathryn Joseph, Seedlings stage ,Belladrum Festival, 7/8/2015. A review.
For whatever reason, the bookers had decided to place Kathryn Joseph relatively early on in the day but that didn’t stop the SAY Award winner from pulling in a decent sized crowd.
Unfortunately certain elements of said crowd seemed couldn’t help themselves from yowping and screeching over the top of what was a reasonably quiet PA system. Ignorant morons aside, Joseph put on a solid and powerful performance. I’ll admit that it’s taken me a while to warm up to her, but with a few repeated listens of the album ‘Bones You Have thrown me…’
I’ve become impressed with her songwriting and the sheer power of her voice. There are few performers out there at the moment who can convey the same level of intensity, it’s never contrived and that piercing stare of hers threatens to strip your soul bare if you get caught in its searchlight.
The drummer’s subtle rhythms keeping time are a fitting accompaniment to her uncomplicated keys, her voice soaring above it all and keeping most of us at least firmly in the palm of her hand.
You can catch Kathryn Joseph when she plays The Maclean Room at Eden Court in September.
Make sure you check out our Belladrum 2015 page for all the news and reviews of what’s happening at the festival.