Matt Sage is an inspirational songmaker and performer, whether singing solo, with an acoustic guitar or conducting the full and explosive electric band. After moving from London where his fellow musicians went on to stardom with Faithless and Dido, he took up residence on a boat on the Oxford canal, founded the legendary Catweazle Club and assembled a stable of the finest local musicians, singers and poets.
Acoustic showcased the talents of individual members of this band. Kicking off with Adam Carpenter on guitar and vocals, Jane Griffiths on violin and Colin Fletcher on base and guitar, the audience were treated to plucky folk numbers such as Sleepy Heart and Under the Stars (a wonderful little song about love and trust). A combination of strings created marvellous dreamy overtones.
Next up were Jane and Colin with a selection of hornpipes and reels. A journey from Northumberland, through the heather of the Highlands - across the water to the Emerald Isle and all the way to the American Deep South. It was Guinness to Gumbo, Bantry Bay to Bayou. The notes soared high and with the final Frank’s Reel the punters were resonating. I have to add that as a fiddle player Jane is one of the finest I’ve seen to date.
Better yet was Barnabas, a one- man orchestra. He lays down track as he plays and then plays over that, building wondrous layers of sumptuous guitar plucking, cello and percussion and entwining it with soft vocals. He even stole an audience applause sample, asked us to join in and then said cheekily ‘I already got a bit of you anyway.” This guy produced what I can only describe as a veritable Bayeaux Tapestry of a set. Check out: www.barnabasmusic.co.uk
A short film, The King of Everything, shot in Oxford opened the second half and Matt fronted his band. A charismatic and soulful fellow, he led them through a fine selection of his well-crafted songs. Particular favourites were the subtle Lilia and Be There with the touching line ‘When you don’t feel so pretty, that’s when your beauty really shines.’ He’s a powerful and emotional performer, a thinker too, with an enviable stage presence, touching on melodramatic. Matt has been likened to Jeff Buckley and Damien Rice and I can see why, but he is without doubt an original.
Why we haven’t heard more about him I don’t know. Maybe his album Strange News From Another Star will rocket him out into the mainstream universe. The songs and the whole raison d’etre of Matt and his incredible band seems to have roots in the spiritual and one feels it. This is nectar for the soul – no wonder they are aptly named The Orchestral of Love.
Acoustic showcased the talents of individual members of this band. Kicking off with Adam Carpenter on guitar and vocals, Jane Griffiths on violin and Colin Fletcher on base and guitar, the audience were treated to plucky folk numbers such as Sleepy Heart and Under the Stars (a wonderful little song about love and trust). A combination of strings created marvellous dreamy overtones.
Next up were Jane and Colin with a selection of hornpipes and reels. A journey from Northumberland, through the heather of the Highlands - across the water to the Emerald Isle and all the way to the American Deep South. It was Guinness to Gumbo, Bantry Bay to Bayou. The notes soared high and with the final Frank’s Reel the punters were resonating. I have to add that as a fiddle player Jane is one of the finest I’ve seen to date.
Better yet was Barnabas, a one- man orchestra. He lays down track as he plays and then plays over that, building wondrous layers of sumptuous guitar plucking, cello and percussion and entwining it with soft vocals. He even stole an audience applause sample, asked us to join in and then said cheekily ‘I already got a bit of you anyway.” This guy produced what I can only describe as a veritable Bayeaux Tapestry of a set. Check out: www.barnabasmusic.co.uk
A short film, The King of Everything, shot in Oxford opened the second half and Matt fronted his band. A charismatic and soulful fellow, he led them through a fine selection of his well-crafted songs. Particular favourites were the subtle Lilia and Be There with the touching line ‘When you don’t feel so pretty, that’s when your beauty really shines.’ He’s a powerful and emotional performer, a thinker too, with an enviable stage presence, touching on melodramatic. Matt has been likened to Jeff Buckley and Damien Rice and I can see why, but he is without doubt an original.
Why we haven’t heard more about him I don’t know. Maybe his album Strange News From Another Star will rocket him out into the mainstream universe. The songs and the whole raison d’etre of Matt and his incredible band seems to have roots in the spiritual and one feels it. This is nectar for the soul – no wonder they are aptly named The Orchestral of Love.