Singer-songwriter Susie Jones recently played a gig at The Harris Museum. Did you catch it? I was very glad I did!

There was a lingering sense of humility as the venue was briefly filled with self-depreciating jokes that had the auidence warmed up even before the heart warming tales we were about to hear in song format.

There was a meditative feel about the songs, they were delicated and balanced. A particular favourite of mine was the “Ode to Preston”. In a music-scene full of songs to lovers, partying and drinking, it made a welcome change to hear about a city lyrically. It could easily have been the hero’s song in a movie.

There were many techniques of guitar player displayed – all as talented and owning their part of the stage as one another. The haunting bass created pathos with ease. My favourite phrase was “darling of cosmos”.

My other favourite was a song about grief. Jones stated this grief had occurred some time ago but she had felt heavy because of it. We seldom hear about grief – or react to it aside from sympathy cards and flowers. My own recent grief felt represented in the darkness for once.

Keep up to date with Susie – you won’t regret it!

Words Emma Stevens