Kathryn Joseph

Scotland’s finest flower has made it all the way down south to be with us in Norwich this evening. It’s been a while in the making and so big thanks are due to the team here at the NAC. It’s actually happening, finally.
I have been going on and on to anyone that is in earshot and even in the slightest bit prepared to listen to me, about this incredible talent for a while now and even more so recently when tonight’s gig got announced.
First up for half an hour is Lomond Campbell with his vibrant wall to wall sounds and beats, he takes us through a dramatic richly coloured landscape, packed full of computer wizardry. We are witnessing a musical genius at work; the good news is that he will be back in a little while to play alongside Kathryn Joseph.
She informs us early doors that we are all here to listen to songs this evening that are mainly about a lot of f******!
From the off, it feels quite mesmerising to be in the presence of this straight-talking woman. I am transfixed on her every move and lyrics as the atmospheric sound fills the room with nothing but positive vibes. She is a great watch visually in the way in which she performs, and the music is both passionate and emotional, played out with such great intensity and when you put the visual and musical elements all together, it’s just so captivating.
Tracks from the new album, WE WERE MADE PREY, (her fourth) get a good airing, kicking off with the restrains of WOLF swirling around the old church, it’s a quite startling track, both bleak and uplifting.
She finds time to chat regularly between songs with some delightful stories, one about taking a poo, while standing up to do the paperwork! We are asked to take an on-the-spot poll about said subject matter, and it sounds like we may be at the top of the tour leader board on the current tour! More stories follow about her dog (it’s his birthday today), children and childbirth!
Campbell has done a quite amazing job remixing some of her older songs, its given them a complete makeover, a new lease of life so to speak and the end result is quite remarkable, none more so than on What Is Keeping You Alive, Makes Me Want To Kill Them.
HARBOUR, BEFORFE and FIRE are a mere trio of the standout tracks from tonight’s show, but it’s just all oh so very impressive and damn right beautiful.
If you put Kate Bush and Bjork in a room, it may just come out sounding something like this? The music is startling, and I am spellbound at the wonder of it all.
She is bold and brilliant and yet still quite a mysterious lady. Jospeh and Campbell have delivered a quite magnificent masterclass; they are a dynamic duo.
It really has been a quite sensational evening and judging by the crowd’s reaction and the queue for merchandise post gig, everyone is going home happy with a great big smile on their face as they venture out onto St Benedicts into the fresh autumnal air.
Tonight, will definitely live long in the gig memory bank for those that were here. But meanwhile, she is up for Scottish album of the year and surely has to be right up there and in with more than a fighting chance to win it? I really do hope so.
Make sure that you tell all your friends about this incredibly special and unique talent, the world needs to know her name, she deserves to have a bigger audience.