Bradford and the Nightrain have been waiting a long time for When Rivers Meet to be in town, having played the neighbouring Leeds and Huddersfield already. But tonight is the night, but before we get them, we have the brilliant Arielle. Arielle hits the stage with the title track of her latest album ’73’, we don’t need no time machine, not with Arielle on stage we are back in the 70s for sure. Some awesome slide guitar on this one, love it. Quickly into a fast driving ‘Somewhere Slow’. Then the slightly ZZ Top groove of ‘Voices in my Head’. Arielle swaps her custom electric guitar for the an acoustic guitar for the beautiful and quirky ‘Weakness For You’.
A storming cover of the Tom Petty’s ‘You Wreck Me’, Arielle is flying and the Nightrain is being treated to some tasty guitar from her to the huge delight of the crowd tonight, especially when she slips in a reference to Bradford, England. Arielle introduces her band – the excellent Sam Tookey on the bass and the mighty Emma Taylor on drums both from the UK. Arielle goes on to explain that at the age of 16 she designed and built her own guitar Two Tone which she is playing tonight. Brian May Guitars now produce this Arielle signature model which you can buy and yes I am tempted. ‘The Way You Look At Me’ from ’73’ is simply beautiful, Arielle’s vocal is divine and her guitar playing perfectly compliments it.
‘Kalypso’ is an instrumental track from the her latest album, some real down and dirty guitar with funky overtones. A real 60s Jeff Beck vibe to this one as Arielle really let’s rip getting up on the drum riser towards the end of the song. Final song of the night is ‘Genies Outta the Bottle’ from her 2019 album ‘Suspension/Dimension’ and it’s over way to quickly. Hopefully she will be back soon with some headline shows.
One slight disappointment of the night is that her 73 VW was not parked on the cobbled street outside the Nightrain. Well maybe costs and logistics didn’t add up as a support slot. But on tonight’s performance it won’t be long before she is headlining shows and hopefully the 73 VW will come with her. I can just imagine when she is headlining Festivals that in ZZ Top style they fly it across the crowd.
Arielle has certainly warmed us all up and the crowd is buzzing for When Rivers Meet who come on to a new track ‘Play my Game’ from their forthcoming album ‘Aces are High’ and what an opener it is. Straight into ‘Never Coming Home’ from the excellent ‘Saving Grace’ album, Grace says, “Are you feeling it Bradford?” and yes we sure are. ‘Did I Break The Law’ follows and this is always a crowd pleaser. ‘Take Me To The River’ gives Aaron a chance to take on the lead vocal duties which he does to great effect. Then we get that down and dirty menacing riff that is ‘Shoot the Breeze’ with Adam Bowers adding a great trumpet accompaniment that really works and adds to the song. Aaron announces that the next song is about when you see someone for the first time and you fancy the pants off them. I am sure he is referring to the time that they both met , ‘Like What You See’ is the track and you can clearly see the love between them both.
‘Bury my Body’ is next and what a special track this is live, beautiful harmonies between Grace and Aaron lift this to the next level and Grace’s violin accompaniment towards the end is exquisite. ‘I Will Fight’ is up next before the cigar box comes out for ‘Innocence of Youth’. More violin from Grace on ‘He’ll Drive You Crazy’ before we get ‘My Babe Says That He Loves Me’ from the second EP with some super slide playing in this one. ‘Battleground’ was the first single from ‘We Fly Free’, quickly followed by ‘Breaker of Chains’ from the same album and also the name of this tour. Grace announces that the next song they are about to play is a very personal song and must go on the set list, she also states that it almost didn’t make the first EP, which would have been a travesty. My favourite song of the night ‘Make a Grown Man Cry’, Grace’s voice is so delicate and beautiful on this one with Aaron adding some great harmonies, priceless.
‘Tomorrow’ is followed by the excellent ‘Free Man’ before we get the latest single ‘Perfect Stranger’ from the forthcoming album and I for one can wait. ‘Lost and Found’ is the last song of the main set and huge applause from the Bradford crowd as Arielle joins them on this one, a great guitar dual with Aaron on this banger of a song.
A quick exit from the stage before When Rivers Meet return with an encore of ‘Want Your Love’ and ‘Testify’. One hour thirty minutes of pure magic has been witnessed tonight, the chemistry between Grace and Aaron is magical with harmonies and musicianship of the whole band off the scale. A When Rivers Meet show is very special indeed and something to be savoured and cherished like a fine wine. And Grace’s smile not only lit up the Nightrain tonight but the whole of Bradford. I for one can’t wait for the forthcoming album and to catch them again on the next tour. Make sure you do, When Rivers Meet are very special indeed.
Gallery by David Pickles
Arielle
When Rivers Meet
