Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt at the Purcell Room

Simone Dinnerstein & Tift Merritt
Purcell Room, 1 July 2013

If you follow this blog at all you'll know that I am a huge fan of singer-songwriter Tift Merritt. For me she is easily the equal of far more lauded artists such as Ryan Adams and Neko Case yet seems to remain largely unknown. She's already put out five superb country and folk inspired albums and earlier this year she released something entirely unexpected but equally wonderful: a collaboration with classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein that explored the connections between their very different musical backgrounds.

Alessi's Ark at the Purcell Room

Alessi's Ark
Ralfe Band
Purcell Room, 23 April 2013

Having followed Alessi since the beginning of her career it was quite thrilling to see the London-born chanteuse play a proper grown-up venue all by herself, in the esteemed South Bank Centre no less, in the lovely Purcell Room. The first time I saw her live it was sitting on the floor of a tiny barge, appropriately enough, moored near the Vauxhall Bridge, now here she is on a fancy stage playing to a seated audience. After the show she even says to me "I can't believe I'm here, it's all like a dream" and it certainly has been a wonderful journey, although I do think Alessi's deserves to be much bigger than she is. Maybe that will all change with the release of her great new album, The Still Life, which this show is promoting.