Last night our latest intern, Rosie Saban – who we are dedicating to the Ventnor Fringe Festival – popped along to Bonchurch Parish Church to see Sam Holmes and Holly Kirby perform. Ed
In a truly inspiring venue that offered great acoustics, Sam Holmes entertained a good sized crowd last night with her unique experimental folk styling.
Bonchurch Parish Church was filled with onlookers as the young Worcester artist began her impressive set.
She was very calm and clearly in her element as she glided from song to song. ‘Charlie’ and ‘Parade’ were particular highlights, and I thought it was a really nice touch when she explained how ‘On My Mind’ was written in memory of her grandfather who had spent time in Bonchurch during the war and was very fond of it, making her visit have a more powerful and personal element.
Great Island talent
Holly Kirby played prior to Sam and it’s testament to Sam’s abilities that she owned the show as Holly was a very difficult act to follow. In only the second year of her Creative Music Technology degree, Holly really proved herself as an up and coming artist to watch out for.
With her fresh and laidback personality, the singer-songwriter, who describes her music as ‘pop/celtic/folky’ had the audience enthralled from the start. Her lyrics were well written, intriguing, and diverse in range.
One that I particularly liked was “Think of me as strange and you’ll be halfway to the place that I call home”, a sentiment many of us share at times I imagine. Highlights were ‘Smooth Talking’ and ‘The Lady in the Past’.
It was a joy to be able to attend the performances of these two very talented artists, and I hope to hear more of them in the future.
Tonight’s offering
The gig was organised by Vaguely Sunny, who tonight host ‘An English Oboe Landscape’ at St Catherine’s Church in Ventnor.
This Ventnor Fringe Festival concert is entitled ‘An English Oboe Landscape’ and features Sussex-based oboist Suzie Shrubb and pianist Karen Kingsley.
