Music > Live Reviews

Stick in The Wheel

Norwich Arts Centre

01/12/18

I definitely wouldn’t consider myself to be a folk music fan, or ‘angry country’ as someone amusingly described it to me the other day. However, I have been fortunate enough to have visited the Cambridge Folk Festival on two occasions on behalf of Outline and they were brilliant days of sublime music. Pick of my trip in 2016 were Stick In The Wheel, and I’ve been impatiently waiting for them to visit Norwich ever since.

Before the main event though the audience were warmed up by guitar playing duo Toby Hay & Jim Ghedi. Sadly I missed the start of their set, but what I did see was very impressive. Their playing was exquisite and although instrumental they completely held the attention of everyone in the room. There was a lovely simplicity to what they do – two men, seated, playing guitar, reminding me of a cross between Led Zep 4 and Comus, and I found myself lost within their music just a few minutes after walking into the hall.

Stick In The Wheel have already come quite some way since I saw them just over two years ago, winning awards, releasing their second full length album and embarking on lots of touring. It says a lot for the healthy state of folk music that a good sized crowd had assembled, and there was a great atmosphere throughout their set. It’s easy to try and tag the band as punk folk, or alt-folk but the reality is they are a folk band pure and simple. Folk in the truest sense of the word – singing songs and telling stories, some centuries old, others brand new.

The musical backing is generally quite sparse – Ian Carter’s guitar and Ellie Wilson’s fiddle providing the bed on top of which the vocals can take centre stage. Nicola Kearey’s voice is the band’s not so secret weapon; singing in her London accent, she steeps the music with its authenticity, accompanied by Fran Foote’s wonderful harmonies. Nicola is a brilliant focal point, her incredibly amusing between song chat having us in stitches, affecting an air of disinterest as she wearily introduced the next song. It was in complete contrast to the smiling and genial person who greeted us at the merch table post gig.

Their use of handclaps as percussion is inspired, giving the music its timeless quality, but overall their sound is passionate, dignified, moving, warm and inspiring. It made me question why I don’t go and see more musical events like this, especially in a year where I’ve found myself somewhat less engaged with the things I’ve been seeing. I couldn’t really pick highlights from the set, because I enjoyed every song they played, although Seven Gypies and The Blacksmith off the debut album and Over Again off the new one were especially good.

Sometimes catching a group at a festival makes an impact because of where you are seeing them, and there have certainly been many times where I’ve gone to see an act for a second time and they have not had anywhere near the same impact as the first time. Not so Stick In The Wheel – a brilliant band who have grown into a proper musical force. I can only hope they enjoyed their first appearance in Norwich as much as we did and bless us with their presence next time they’re touring.