Each year a dreary British winter has a ray of spring hope
with the Celtic Connections Festival and the Transatlantic Sessions tour. The
knock effect of these two twin events embedded north of the border is the sprinkling
of touring artists who seek a few dates in the more southern locations of these
isles. Obviously the Transatlantic project hits a number of English cities in
force in February, while artists such as Cahalen Morrison and Eli West call at
numerous venues on their trek to Glasgow’s melting pot of majestic music. So
for the first time, the duo hailing from America’s Pacific North West, found
their way to the south Birmingham suburb of Kings Heath to showcase their
talents to an anticipated Kitchen Garden Café audience.  |
| Eli West |
 |
| Cahalen Morrison |
The striking duo had an impressive poise on stage. Eli with
his more heightened stature held court all evening on acoustic guitar, while
Cahalen swayed between playing banjo to open each set before switching to
mandolin. Whether in harmony, duet or solo, their voices ached with the toil of
rural old time music, a style seemingly to flow through their veins, heart, soul and
spirit. Cahalen did pay respect to his south western desert upbringing with the
song ‘Down in the Lonesome Draw’
which semi-autobiographically traced his gravitation north.
Cahalen appeared to be the architect of most of the originals,
although the pair was keen to represent the work of others right across the
roots spectrum. Alongside the bluegrass standard ‘Kentucky Girl’, they also covered Norman Blake’s ‘Church St. Blues’, a song given a
similar treatment by UK act The Carrivick Sisters at the very same venue a
couple of years ago. The more contemporary folk sounds of Townes Van Zandt were
celebrated in a version of ‘Bar Room Girl’,
while ‘Voices of Evening’ by Hazel
Dickens and Alice Gerrard graced the show’s final moments.
With all the charm of a brace of musicians dedicated to
their musical passion, Calahen Morrison and Eli West bade farewell to some new
found fans and thus headed north to seek more eager partisans of high class
roots music. A couple of new songs, including one untitled, previewed a prosperous
future for the duo and a number of UK return visits are planned starting with
the Shetland Folk Festival in May. A duo once seen, heard, experienced and
enjoyed but not forgotten is a celebratory parting message and worthy alongside a thanks for
popping into Birmingham.
