The Kitchen Garden is made for an evening like this. Three artists on stage exuding friendly warmth and drawing on an inner trait ensuring any gap between creator and consumer is accessibly bridged. The collaboration between Jess Vincent and Katie Whitehouse may be a 'pop up' in the instant, but one cemented by many years of association. Numerous catalysts have likely thrown this set up together with the third dynamic of Dan Whitehouse succinctly adding crucial layers and an ethereal dimension. One suspects this short run of dates may sense a renewal around the corner.
All three musicians have roots planted in different aspects of the music industry growing at irregular intervals. Not all the usual sides were on show this evening as an attentive audience were treated to a breadth of riches. The result: a little more known across the board and a radiant glow of distinction and identity.
Devon-based music industry allrounder Katie Whitehouse proved the impetus for what was witnessed. In the last year, her creative side moved to the fore to nestle alongside the established management and promotion. The release of a debut album fuelled by poetic imagery and musical nuance was met with acclaim piqued by curiosity and solidified through the unveiling of a literary groove. A sparse sound underpinning ingrained emotion echoed the concept 'less is more' and this came across from her time in the spotlight as she presented the bulk of her DRAWING LINES album. Most songs emanated from behind the keys and in the presence of her colleagues, with the odd solo and help from the guitar.
Jess Vincent's musical journey is the polar opposite to Katie's. A familiar name across the folk and acoustic landscape for several years; circumstance, opportunity or fate saw an off grid relocation to Bulgaria where she has quietly made unheard music in recent times. This tentative step back into the limelight understandably drew a cautious start as she opened the evening with four solo songs, yet by the end her songwriting and performing skills were in full flow revealing an astute artist possessing a distinctive vocal presence piercing deeper with each finely crafted note. The songs were lifted from a bunch of albums across the years with the enticing gift of a new number signalling something for the future.
We saw a different side to Dan Whitehouse this evening, one unbilled and quietly elevating the soundscape from subtle electric guitar and occasional synth. His input was probably more than revealed though it also played to the gallery of 'less is more.' A vital cog to a show that calmly sailed through two candid sets exploring inspiration and the resonance of songs in a complex world.
Although the stage format hopped around during the gig, the encore saw Jess, Katie and Dan all in place sharing verses of Louden Wainwright's 'Come a Long Way'. A fitting collaborative finale to an evening bathed in unabated respect and affection, where individual grooves were found and identities forged.