Taking to the stage with her four-piece and daughter Bailey on backing vocals, you’d never think Judie had a bout of flu, immediately getting into her vocal stride for an 18-song, 90-minute showcasing of her impressive new One Tree Less, as well as amiable ambles down past pathways. Enjoy The Ride got the ball rolling in beauteous balladic fashion, and the Renaissance-style vibe returned intermittently on the likes of Humankind.
Her new material seamlessly slotted in, shining in the gothic setting on the title track, with dual vocal swathes drifting over the nave. The atmospheric piano lament of Till It’s Over and breezy Bring The Rain were followed by the infectious folk-AOR of How Sweet It Is, and While She Sleeps pulsated like a firefly on the wing, the band’s syncopated handclap bursts providing a popping percussive foundation. Reflective new number, Joy, bore chiming, soundtrack-atmosphere guitars, while Living On The Coast jazzed things up before a debut-album return for Sukarita,and an encore including the heartfelt, prog-tinged Stay With Me Till Dawn, and a scintillating Sports Car that Florence Welch could’ve been driving.
