Tift Merritt at The Borderline

Tift Merritt

Simon Lynge

The Borderline, 4 July 2011

It's funny, I think I had forgotten just how petite and lovely Tift Merritt is because when she walks on stage I'm surprised at how small and beautiful she is. Wearing tights, black shorts and a sailor-style top, she seems over-dressed for the warm weather but she tells us our London heatwave would be considered mild in her hometown of North Carolina. Tonight she seems more excited than the last the last time I saw her live, filled with a nervous energy that somehow enhances her performance.

Emmylou Harris at the Royal Festival Hall

 
Emmylou Harris & The Red Dirt Boys

Simon Lynge

Royal Festival Hall, 1 June 2011

Oh Emmylou, could you be any more perfect? I've seen Emmylou Harris before but this time she seemed energised and happier, walking on to the stage with a little dance. It almost goes without saying that she looked absolutely radiant, wearing a silver headband and layers of brown velvet, satin and lace and the most amazing fringed suede boots, she launched into a song from her new album Hard Bargain, the upbeat, toe-tapping Six White Cadillacs, following it with Orphan Girl and Red Dirt Girl, both of which got a big cheer. Tonight, she told us, she would be digging out some old tunes and trying out some new ones and it really was a lovely mixture of both.