Gig Review: Courtney Marie Andrews - Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham. Wednesday 25th February 2026

 

“You guys are so quiet.”

Maybe it was something to do with a spell cast from the stage. A packed room of hypnotised devotees hanging on every lyric and note. The lure of Courtney Marie Andrews is strong, almost addictive. Her steely gaze captures attention and freezes the moment. Noise would breach the code and nobody in the Hare and Hounds was going to do that.

“That’s Valentine folks.”

A simple end to what was a minimalist exhibition of an album stirring emotive songwriting affection since surfacing in January. A segment designated as act 1. Unfiltered evidence of a songwriter and musician stretching every sinew of their creative nous came to the fore. Forty minutes when the songs spoke for themselves. You could argue the stage became a studio and the gig a session, however this form is the identity and one honed over the last decade as a prominent solo artist. 

Courtney Marie Andrews is at ease with communicating through her music. Reenacting a record in its enshrined structure allowed for the nuances to permeate. Valentine is built for a purpose and a certain flow. This type of live presentation only works in the slipstream of a release, bar the milestone anniversary resurrection. From flute to acoustic guitar, from bass to drums, from keys to electric guitar, the melange of sounds propelled the motion of an album with undulating tonal appeal. Further input was unnecessary. Valentine is an enduring album awash with melodic charm and a wandering mind wrapped in lyrical intimacy. The Hare and Hounds was a single snapshot, yet within reach with every subsequent play.

“Act 2 will be a few songs you may know.”

Therein lies the conundrum. Valentine ached to be played in a certain transparent way. Songs forming the rest of the set have left the comfort zone of an album and accrued a life of their own. As individual entities they sparkle, yet as a cohesive gel they required context. Even in a full band environment there is room for shared enlightenment. A telepathic relationship with a converted flock meets individual needs. Buy in and you’re locked in. Maybe a touch of lateral expansion would move the performing dial. The desire is there and came with emotion rather than insight. 

It is a blessing that Courtney Maries Andrews and Birmingham have aligned. This isn’t always the case for higher planed American singer-songwriters where other cities of a certain ilk possess a perceived responsive audience. To get someone so highly adept at conveying what they are about is a treat welcomed in resoundingly reasonable numbers. There may be a narrow lane where the music travels but attuned minds seal a committed attraction.

Yes, a UK Courtney Marie Andrews audience will always be quiet. The folks gave Valentine the love and attention a magnificent record deserved. The back catalogue will always be cherished whichever pickings appear on the menu. A wonderful creative bond has been created by an artist at one with her craft. The poetry samples were tantalising, the band reconfiguration re-energising and the humble appreciation grounding. A night where a special artist and an enchanted audience morphed into an entity of shared love. 

Opening Act: Amanda Bergman

Band Members: Courtney Marie Andrews (guitar, keys, flute) Jerry Bernherdt (guitar, keys), Matt Carroll (drums), Taylor Zachary (bass)

Set List: 

Act 1: Pendulum Swing, Keeper, Cons and Clowns, Magic Touch, Little Picture of a Butterfly, Outsider, Everyone wants to Feel Like You Do, Only the Best for Baby, Best Friend, Hangman

Act 2: Standing in the Rain, It Must Be Someone Else’s Fault, Satellite, Break the Spell, Burlap String, Near You, If I Told

Encore: Irene, Table for One