It was one part of the jigsaw complete when the sold out sign went up for Hillary Klug's Birmingham debut. The capacity at the Kitchen Garden may be modest, but the first test for this UK tour was to send messages that a phenomenal digital presence can be converted into real bodies. Touring momentum is next on the agenda and there was an inkling that a band may be in tow the next time to add a different dynamic to the live presence of this dancing fiddle player from the state of Tennessee. In the meantime it was the single entity of a National Buck Dancing champion equipped with a pair of strategically tuned fiddles, a banjo, a platform to share the poise of her foot movement and a fistful of songs and tunes transplanting the essence of Appalachia to venues far and wide.
Entertainment and connectivity are the two key take aways from sampling the wares and offerings of this Nashville-based musician. A no holds barred full on presentation ran over the two-hour mark as a volley of nuggets nestled amongst songs and tunes that were a decent slice of a songbook fusing old time, mountain music and shades of contemporary country. The pride, enthusiasm and unabated dedication to a calling flowed and flushed from the bubbly persona of a performer who grew more comfortable the longer she sank into her art. Whether you were a fully fledged online disciple or a curious bystander, willing on Hillary Klug was a gimme and the only game in town during a lively and informative show.
Playing and dancing come to fore as this highly motivated and driven musician struts her stuff. Vocals and song selection trail a little with the latter being safe rather than inventive. Songwriting is in its embryonic stage. Not always essential in this type of act, but a self-penned effort was shared towards to the end to tilt the evening in a slightly different direction.
Crucially you end up being wooed by dance styles, foot movements, fiddle tunings and an admirable desire to hook into the journey from rural Tennessee to Nashville, then into the wider world through content creation and having the gumption to get your talents in front of people thousands of miles from home. Throughout the live performance, an effervescent desire to share a beloved tradition shines brightly and fervently. The utmost respect to an enthusiastic audience is painstakingly adhered to ensuring no chat, signing or selfie opportunity goes missing. Many are keen to circle their online interaction and get something personal that can never be replicated in this modern age of glass gazing. To this extent Hillary Klug signs, seals and delivers.
As the evening draws to a close, a lot more of Hillary Klug has been revealed without fully grasping the true connection between astronomical online numbers and a recording/touring career at a more grounded level. If the talents, desires and smart moves harness then the trajectory of this multi-facetted entertainer will assume a upward pattern. Regardless of trends, fads and undulating acceptance of old time music, Hillary Klug is already a winner for the way she goes about portraying the gifts bestowed to her. Two hours in her presence creates room only for a smile, an education and a mutual gratitude that music possesses the power to connect.