Albion Nights Sunday Showcase
A wonderful event in a wonderful location, hosted by wonderful people.
Close to the village of Woodton, just off the main road between Norwich to Bungay, lies Albion Barn. It is home to music fans Pete and Helen McGrath-Doherty, who, several times a year, throw open their kitchen for some wonderfully hosted live music events. Sometimes featuring local acoustic acts, and sometimes international stars like Michelle Stodart, these evenings are always memorable and special in a way that only comes with the intimacy of listening to live music in someone's own home.
Pete and Helen moved to Norfolk several years ago from North London, where they had been a lively part of the thriving Camden musical scene, with Helen playing fiddle in several local bands. Since moving to Albion Barn, Pete has also constructed a pair of off-grid cabins, set in a six-acre wildflower meadow, which can be booked for the ultimate in get-away-from-it-all breaks. The cabins have been featured in The Guardian and The Times newspapers, and in magazines such as Elle and Grazia. They were also the subject of a recent episode of the Channel 4 television programme 'George Clarke's Amazing Spaces'.
However, ahead of this autumn's upcoming series of Albion Nights, I was lucky enough to be invited to a private Sunday afternoon event in the kitchen, co-hosted by Helen and legendary local sound engineer / music producer Lavar. Five hand-picked local acts played to a specially invited audience of movers and shakers from the local music scene, and each act performed a specially recorded showcase session of between three and four songs.
The five acts lucky enough to play began with Ipswich neo-soul singer Tia B and, also from Ipswich, soulful R&B singer Nina Arya. Let's Eat Grandma's Jenny Hollingworth performed her first ever solo live set, backed on keys by Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter Harry Edwards, and featuring a powerful and moving cover of the Jeff Buckley song 'Lover You Should've Come Over'. Arthur Black's emotionally charged solo performance, again accompanied by Harry Edwards, concluded with a cover of Charli XCX's 'I Might Say Something Stupid'. The afternoon sessions concluded with Ifay, a Norfolk singer whose slightly smokey vocals blend smooth jazz and hip-hop in a way that really impressed.
Then, just as we thought it was all over, who should appear through the patio doors? None other than legendary South London reggae star Natty, a long-term friend of Lavar's who had driven up specially, and who played an amazing five-song set featuring the songs 'Gaya', 'Hurt Not The Earth', 'Spirit Woman', 'Coloured Souls' and 'I'm Alive'. To say I was surprised is possibly the understatement of 2025, as Natty is an artist that I have admired and followed since his first release almost two decades ago, but had never seen perform anywhere live, let alone in a friend's kitchen.
So, there you have it – a wonderful event in a wonderful location, hosted by wonderful people. If you would like to attend one of Pete and Helen's kitchen events head over to their albion_nights Instagram page, where you will find details of how to reserve a place. Upcoming events include Camden-born folk musician Pearl Fish on October 10th, and Liverpool band Motel Sundown (who played at Red Rooster Festival this year) on November 22nd. Maybe I will see you there.
