Reviews
Artist:Aimee Newsome-Stone
Venue:Bournemouth Folk Club
Town:Bournemouth
Date:26/10/08
Website:http://www.bournemouthfolkclub.com/
Aimee Newsome-Stone was offered the headline slot for her debut ep launch, but decided that it was probably a step too far in her short, but flourishing career, preferring to use an extended support slot to offer her "Letters To Nobody" to a waiting world.
Aimee has come a long way this year, live dates, including a tour of America, complete with ghost. The move from backing singer to lead, from performing other people's songs to writing and performing her own. She's done it by taking steps that have felt the right size and tonight was not one to walk away from that tried and tested formula.
It was difficult to see any of the pre-gigs nerves from Aimee once she got behind the microphone, but her guitar was definitely showing the jitters, refusing to retune after the first number.
During the course of the set, Aimee would have all of those involved in the making of the EP up on stage, possibly for the only ever time. In addition Bob Burke lent his skills at the piano as Ms. Newsome-Stone wasn't able to play piano and guitar at the same time, though she did take over the old Joanna for the final number in the set..
Apart from the last number, the band consisted of Bob, Simon Whitbread(drums) and Andy Stone(guitar) who also produced the EP and happens to be Aimee's dad.
Guitar successfully retuned the set continued with a soft Americana feel, her visit to the States earlier in the year seemingly influencing her style as well as providing material for her songwriting as well as words.
Confidence grew as the set progressed. That was most obvious with the between chat banter. Tales of how the songs came to be written slipping of the tongue, no sign of the slight faltering from earlier.
It was time for the first guest of the evening, Jasmine(Jazz) Newsome-Stone, Aimee's younger sister to provide some backing vocals and some blood harmonies. The interplay between siblings was spot on. Who knows, maybe in s a few year time the reviews will be of the Newsome-Stone Sisters, I digress except to say, it was wonderful. Those that were there on the night were in the right place at the right time.
It was definitely a night for strong vocal performances, next up were Black Tulip, the act that had taken the headlining set. They also had performed on "Letters To Nobody" and similarly added to the live occasion.
There was one final guest of the evening, Matt Tarling. Matt brought a mournful fiddle to the evening , adding an almost consumptive touch to the proceedings. It brought out the emotion of Aimee's voice, at times almost touching on American Gothic and showing the extent of the material that Aimee now feels at home with.
Even the obligatory plugs for the recording settled into the set, that Aimee chose to bring to a conclusion sat at the grand. 2008 has been a year of growth for Aimee. I guess that it was difficult to imagine at the start of the year that she would be ending it with a self penned EP under her belt. I've got a feeling there's plenty more places for this story to grow.
The evening ended with a set from Black Tulip. Black Tulip are a three piece accapella band, although a couple of the songs are accompanied by simple guitar. The majority of the set is covers, some written as vocal only pieces, others adapted to the tight harmonies.
I have to say it was a brilliant set and I enjoyed every minute of it, but in truth, we all knew it was Aimee's night.