We checked out two recent Jamma promoted live shows, writes Chris Hillman.
I’d been hearing good things about local music promoter Jamma, so myself and Andrew Merritt (with his trusty camera) decided to pop along to their first show of the year at The Purple Turtle a couple of weeks ago.
First up was one of the artists that we’ve championed in our RaW Sounds.Today playlist feature, Split the Dealer.
Split, aka Sam Brett, usually plays with a full band but here he was doing a solo acoustic set.
I’ve seen many such sets in my time and often it can be hard for the artist to engage with a crowd when just singing and strumming an acoustic guitar.
That certainly wasn’t the case with Sam.
He showed what an impressive performer he is – great songs delivered with power and passion and what a voice. A brilliant set.
Next up was headliner Jazz Mino a Manchester-born, Somerset raised singer-songwriter whose electro indie-pop performed by herself with the help of a very good guitarist was great.
Infectious, uplifting and fun, it was just what you needed if you have been missing live music.
It was a great night and as it was a show that been rescheduled, we saw that the next Jamma promoted gig was only the following week.
As we’d been so impressed and had such a good time we decided to go along to that too.
What a good move that was since it was the launch party for the new single, by one of our favourite new bands, Third Lung.
First up was support from Nicky Booty, who many will know as she is a producer for Radio Berkshire’s BBC Introducing show.
She’s clearly very talented since, as well as her radio skills, she is a good singer and songwriter, as she showed with her live set.
There was certainly a buzz in The Purple Turtle as Third Lung took the stage.
The four-piece showed their great musicianship as they performed many of their popular songs such as I A Fire, Hold the Line and of course their excellent new single, Laura.
Singer and guitarist Tom Farrelly also took to the piano where he played and sang brilliantly on a couple of songs, The Art of Stealing and a wonderful new song.
In fact, there were a number of brand new songs throughout the set and they were great.
If they are anything to go by, the band’s new album, Gameplay, due out later in the year, is going to be well worth getting.
The two shows we attended were excellent and you know there is something exciting going on when in the audience for the show you see members of other bands plus people from recording studios, record labels, radio shows and press.
If you want to come along and be part of the exciting local music scene, check out other shows coming up from Jamma and all the other promoters in the area. There’s some great music out there and it’s a great night out.
The next Jamma show is Friday, April 29. If you are a band or artist you could have the chance to play on the night. For more details, log on to: https://jammamusic.com
Follow our RaW Sounds.Today playlist at https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday
Check out gigs coming up in the area in our gig guide in this paper.
