Cartwheels

A different sort of music tonight - Ward Thomas playing an acoustic set at the Lowther Pavilion in Lytham St Annes. We’ve been to see them several times over the years, since getting to know their music when Ken Bruce made their second album “Cartwheels” his record of the week back in 2016.
The duo are twin sisters and I suppose the best way of describing their style is “English Country Pop”. Not sure if that accurately describes their work, but it’s the label that’s become attached to them. James Blunt was sufficiently impressed to not only have them as his support act on his 2020 tour (just before lockdown) but also to re-record the track “Halfway” as a duet with the sisters and release it as a single.
We’ve never been to the Lowther Pavilion, and it’s a very long time since we’ve been to - or even through - Lytham, so we set off good and early to give us plenty of time to get there, have a look around and get something to eat before the concert. Traffic was better than anticipated so we had time for a bit of a wander by the sea and then a decent tea at a nearby Wetherspoons.
The concert itself was excellent. The support act was Laura Oakes, a singer/guitarist with a superb voice who treated us to several of her compositions.
Then we had Ward Thomas treating us to songs old and new, but all performed in a stripped back fashion. They described it as them playing the songs like when they first wrote them - just their voices plus an acoustic guitar and keyboard. For a few of the numbers when they needed a bit more guitar, they did have a third person on stage with them. A really superb set and their voices were as good as always - I wonder if it’s because they’re identical twins that their voices harmonise so well.
I would happily go and see other acts at the Lowther Pavilion - it is a really nice little venue - and we will definitely be going back to Lytham when the weather is warmer, for a proper look around.