From one angle nothing changes; from another angle a lot changes. Danni Nicholls played her first Kitchen Garden show back in 2015. Over the next 8 years several visits have built a decent following to the point where she gets inked in for many to catch up with what she is doing. There was plenty to catch up with from tonight's show alongside many timely reminders to why she has been a firm favourite in many quarters for the last decade.
One significant development has been engaging the services of Bedford-based guitarist Sam Barrett for UK shows whose versatility extended to acoustic and electric guitars, and fiddle. Danni has played in duo and full band formats, but there was something extra special in her latest highly talented and hugely complementary accomplice.
We are now in the midst of Danni literally living the dream as her American status has shifted from tourist to extended temporary resident. Much of her music has been recorded in Nashville and she has regularly tapped into Music City talent on the writing and playing front. Being fully immersed into the culture of Nashville will feed into her music, likely to take it to another level. This from a high plateau of being one of the UK's finest exponent of country-tinged/American-fuelled singer-songwriter music.
It may have been four years since the release of the widely acclaimed THE MELTING MORNING album. Obvious barriers to its successor are gradually receding and plans are afoot to get it into motion. Alongside the recently released single 'Little Fictions', further new songs were previewed in the shape of 'Hide', The Wreckage' and 'Four Frames'. All sounding up to, and exceeding the precedent set.
Across her two sets this evening we had the full breadth of her catalogue. 'Between the River and the Railway', with its old time country sound, represents the distant pre-full album Danni Nicholls. More up-to-date material off the latest record continues to grow as live staples. 'Texas' and 'Hear Your Voice' still blend in the styles of respective co-writers Ben Glover and Kyshona Armstrong, while 'Wild as the Water' acted as the warm up show opener.
Old favourites breed a re-assuring act of fond appreciation. 'Travellin'' Man' and 'Back to Memphis' nail the quintessential American sound. 'A Little Redemption' and 'Where the Blue Train Goes' never lose their live shine. Regular go-to covers 'Guilty' and 'Goodnight Moon' get the Danni Nicholls makeover and from their esteemed position highlight that the original compositions aren't far behind.
Danni Nicholls may be going through career and life defining changes on many fronts, but from alternative perspectives she is still the same shining star accruing many fans from her hardworking endeavours on the UK circuit all these years. Wherever her future lies there will always be a place at the Kitchen Garden and those who frequent its intimate surroundings. Evolution is important, but roots aren't far behind.