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Emily Maguire and Christian Dunham

Venue: The Cluny 2
Town: Newcastle
Date: 26/4/14
Website: http://www.emilymaguire.com/

Support for the evening came from a young girl named Caoilfhionn Rose. Accompanying herself on keyboard, she was visibly nervous as she spoke to the audience. However, she demonstrated a pleasant vocal as she introduced us to songs such as Peter, Another Day, I'll Follow and At EveningTide, before drawing her set to a close with the aptly named The End. I wonder where more experience will take her?

This was Emily Maguire's third visit to The Cluny 2, fast becoming one of their favourite venues to play. As always, she was accompanied by her husband; outstanding bass player, Christian Dunham. having always seen them as a duo, I was conflicted between excitement and nervousness when I saw they had a drum set on stage. It soon emerged that said drums belonged to Paul Francis, a lecturer at Huddersfield University, whom Emily had recently met and arranged to do some gigs. This was one of their very first gigs together, not that you would ever have guessed, so brilliantly did they gel, and play together, along with Paul's wife, Catherine, on violin and viola.From start to finish, the music was exquisite, intuitive, subtle, yet powerful as it enhanced, complemented and added emotion to every word Emily delivered with her beautiful vocals. Paul later explained to me that a good drummer is like a safety net for the singer; he shows her how far she can safely go vocally. I think this, combined with the sparkle of confidence which now shines from Emily, took her voice to places I've never heard it go before...and it was stunning.

Telling us stories about the home she shared with Christian in Australia, how she ended up cancelling a flight back to tour with Don MacLean, her time recently playing gigs in mental hospitals (which she clearly loves,) and her own experiences with BiPolar disorder, she moved the audience to tears and laughter, as she effortlessly held them in the palm of her hand. I won't divulge her stories, she tells them far better than I ever could. Looking back seven years to that first time I saw Emily and Christian at a house concert in York, it is wonderful to see how far she has come and how many people are falling in love with her voice and her songs. These songs, in many cases are very personal, yet they are simultaneously very relatable, with or without knowing her story. As she finished each song, happy or sad, there was a huge smile which lit up the room; that smile left us in no doubt how much she loves to do what she does.

The night was filled with comedic moments, too, from tangled wires, short mic stands, to Emily smacking her head on a mic. All were met with laughter; marks of true professionals!

The problem with Emily's song collection now is that it is impossible to pick standout tracks; she covered all of her CD releases, giving us a great flavour of who and what she is about. Personal highlights included, in no particular order; Beautiful, Over the Waterfall (I can't even begin to describe what the rise and fall of the drums added to the emotional intensity of this song; coupled with her vocals and the bass, it was like being taken on a journey into Emily's mind and soul,) Bird Inside a Cage, Keep Walking, I'd Rather Be, Wanting Time, and of course, the story of her life in four minutes, Start Over Again.

A magical night of music came to an end all too soon and naturally Emily spoke to all who wanted to speak at the end. You learn immediately that her other incredible gift is making everyone she meets feel special and appreciated; what you see on stage truly is who she is. That, I feel, makes her songs even more poignant.

I'm now one of many a Believer that tonight is the best Newcastle has seen and heard Emily Maguire. All the more reason, then, to eagerly anticipate her new album due in Spring 2015 and the return to Newcastle she has already promised us. (I'm hoping Paul and his drums have kept that date free, too!) Already at a loss as to how she will follow her last CD, Bird Inside a Cage, I do recall wondering the same thing after Believer, so I look forward to finding out. One request, Emily and Christian...don't make us wait too long!

Helen Mitchell
Photo Neil King(not taken at gig)