Last year we put on a show headlined by Catherine Feeny, with support from Chris Pureka and Midnight Mile. The following review was written by Modesty Blaise.

Catherine Feeny

So the hotly anticipated Catherine Feeny now graces the Barn Stage at the Frog and Fiddle. It is clear she has rather a sizable following and I can see why, her quirky guitar and whispering, cooing vocal layering is completely captivating. She has this small, tiny little voice that bursts into the occasional soulful bellow as the guitar noises become deeper and wilder. It’s dreamlike and wondrous in parts and incredibly fingertip gentle.

A little way through the set a man called Sebastian is entered into the mix, he ups the harmony anti. Although of course there is more power with two vocals the sound still manages to cling onto its eerie bashfulness.

I think it is safe to say (despite the Netball team in the other room roaring at the top of their unrealistically manly voices) that Catherine Feeny is an incredible songstress. With her smooth and temperate voice and Sebastian’s dramatic and ardent Spanish esq guitar skills this is lovely, soulful stuff.

Chris Pureka

As this shy looking little thing walks onto the stage, guitar in arm it is to be expected that there will be no raucous stage antics here. As she begins to strum away it is a challenge to tear your ears away from this completely stripped back raw music. It builds up from quiet, meek little string picks that resonate at every note waver and then into this melodic strumming with a pulsating beat gently given off from the little box beneath her feet (it probably has some name but hey ho).

Her vocals remind me of Tracey Chapman and some of the picky bits and kaleidoscopic rhythms could be likened to that of Elliot Smith. It’s infectious and enticing as it feels just so very personal as though you were looking through the pages of a private diary, well one with a musical ability anyway. This is the kind of stuff that leaves a shiver down your spine and a thousand thoughts in your head. With haunting deep rhythms and that feeling of traditional American folk it is not surprising that the audience is completely mute and the silence is only broken by rapturous applause. So my suggestion to you is to get your self a scummy apartment or a barn, sit there and put this on vinyl; however I very much doubt that A – you can afford a barn (or a scummy apartment for that matter) or that Chris Pureka has vinyl but either way this nostalgic heart wrenching folk deserves to be appreciated for all it’s bare, rare beauty.

Midnight Mile

Sumptuous, chilled out and beautiful acoustic Folk is Midnight Mile, just gorgeous. With a female vocal that is incredibly soft with this breathy quality making you hang on every word, completely arresting. The lyricism is uncomplicated and honest fitting perfectly with the deliberately unfussy and beautiful music.

“Want to be” has this quirky little drum beat which pitter-patters like rain-wash and yet still remains prominent enough to hold your attention. Yet it would to be nice to hear a little triangle or perhaps some xylophone in the percussion section just to lift everything and give it a more of a dreamy feel. But, with banjos and harmonicas there isn’t really a lot of complaining to be done here; it’s fantastical folk perfection.

This is gentle, inoffensive ditties coupled with pensive, heart felt vocals to lift your spirits and to calm your soul. As cheesy as I sound here it is this truth, Midnight Mile are just lovely.