LIVE REVIEW & GALLERY: Eliza Delf & The Wilderness l Maple Ward l Jim Holland l Murmurations @ Puppet Theatre, Norwich
May 16th 2024
The Norwich Puppet Theatre occupies the elegant 11th century medieval church of St James the Less, Pockthorp. While some of the inside of the building has a modern feel, the auditorium itself holds all the charm of a classic, loved theatre. I knew that I was going to be in for a unique night of folk music. Even though I arrived early to set up my equipment, it wasn’t long before the auditorium was near enough full of spectators, ready for the event. After a brief introduction to the evening, the first act entered the stage.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Jim Holland
Jim Holland is a singer-songwriter, blending English folk revival with traditional American music. While his set went really quickly, each and every song was full of emotion to the point where it was like Jim was telling a thoughtful story in each song, with inspiration from the likes of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. With a style of train blues, each lyric to every song that he performed fitted perfectly. While Jim has performed across America and Europe, it was a delight to see him play live to a full crowd.
Maple Ward
Next on stage was Norwich-based acoustic singer-songwriter Maple Ward. Maple’s performance was one of the best I have seen, as while her lyrics are quite dark, her soft angelic tone makes every song sound beautiful, while keeping the honest meaning. Maple has performed across the region and has appeared at various festivals. It is easy to see that she is a shining star in the making, and if you have the chance to see her perform, then you will not be disappointed.
Murmurations
After a short interval, next up were Murmurations. Murmurations are a Norwich-based musical flock, formed of four female musicians using the perfect natural sound of Irish bouzouki, mandolin, cello, flute, and harmonium. With vocals that harmonised perfectly with each instrument played, the sweet harmonies and intimate storytelling made them one of the most unique acts that I have ever seen perform. When you take in their beautiful sound and lyrics, you don’t just hear the story, you feel a part of the story.
Eliza Delf & The Wilderness
After another short interval, it was time for the headline act to enter the stage. Having been lucky enough to see Eliza Delf & The Wilderness perform in the past, I knew what to expect. Eliza Delf & The Wilderness’ unique sound of calming guitar riffs, the beautiful tranquil sound of a cello, and Eliza’s beautifully sung vocals gave the perfect combination of folk and contemporary. Eliza’s unique sound can be easily likened to Kate Bush, with a pitch-perfect sound on every song they performed. Not only does Eliza Delf & The Wilderness sound even better than the previous time I saw them perform, but their elegant style filled the environment of the auditorium perfectly. It was easy to see why they were the headline act and were the perfect finish to a perfect night.
Last but not least, so much credit to The Wayfarers for putting together this amazing event. Every act booked was outstanding and played beautifully, adding to the charm of the venue, all of which made it a perfect night and couldn’t have been done without the sheer professionalism of The Wayfarers. No matter what genre of music you listen to, it is the likes of The Wayfarers that show that not only is grassroots music still essential in the music industry, but also gets new fans and support from people of all ages.
