A fascinating evening at The Green Note would see another TALENTBANQ / Black Deer Live presentation that would afford #TEAMw21 a first chance to see rising talent Florence Sommerville in the flesh, alongside another first time viewing for us of Singer / Songwriter Daniel McGuiness. Florence would make an immediate impression hours before even taking to the stage, patiently talking to many members of the audience, building up a rapport that will no doubt serve her well throughout the year and beyond. It's been an interesting time since the release of her debut single, in both writing and playing, like all songwriters with new material, they are bursting to set it free into the world - to get an audiences reaction, Florence has so much material that her debut single "On My Way" would not even make it into the live set this evening.
Daniel McGuiness had a great line in songs that seemed ready made for full band versions. His opener "Right Next To Me", his single from 2022, matched a gentle guitar style with an assured vocal. His second song "Leaving London" about moving out to Kent, had a sadness about it and made it's point with one succinct line
"A one bedroom flat for half a million pounds - count me out".
Daniel's excellent turn of phrase opened up "Make Today Your Home"
"You can finally unfriend her - reinstall your Tinder
You could even grow a beard and change your name"
This tale of loss was touching memo to move on.
A song inspired by his Nan, "Road To Nowhere", about moving on after the loss of her husband, had something of big anthem sound to it, while "Hourglass" from his EP, perfectly captured the sense of time passing and realising that he should be spend more time playing music. Introducing "Never Let It Go" as his most romantic song, Daniel did indeed show a most tender side. Inspired by the new Bob Dylan movie, his set would close with a cover of "Blowing In The Wind". His endearing charm earned himself a well earned encore which he filled with his latest single "The Way I See You" which was a neat reminder to not be too hard on yourself.
Florence would take to the stage with a guitar, and a batch of songs that many of the audience would be unfamiliar with, yet there was a feeling of expectation in the room that we might be in for something special on this Green Note debut.
Even from just the opening seconds on stage, there was an immediate sense that this was someone comfortable with being onstage and talking to an audience, immediately launching into her introduction while playing a strident confident backing on her guitar. The opening song "Broken Pieces", already displayed little elements of stage craft, like the way the words "know just what you are" were emphasised, or how the volume of her guitar playing dropped away to highlight her impressively confident vocals.
"Fearless" based around a series of unfortunate events came with an immediate earworm chorus that you'd find yourself humming the next day which is always a good sign.
Another promising thing that #TEAMw21 look for in a good songwriter is to be able to take something seemingly quite mundane and turn it into something special.
This would happen with Florence's next song "Overton", which was inspired by seeing a place name on a map of the US and then conjuring up an idea around it. A beautifully well created and well observed song, played to a gentle guitar refrain which would build as the song developed. The song would span many years and would see Florence hit some marvellously extended notes. Switching up the pace "Just For Once" would draw from her friends for inspiration.
Her next song "California", was the result of a three way co-write across Zoom, and it seemed to be sung in a voice that belied Florence's age, such was the depth and assured tones in her delivery. At #TEAMw21 we always judge an artist by their choice of covers and surely a Guns & Roses cover must be a Green Note first, and yet here we were listening to an Americana version of "Sweet Child Of Mine". Florence's version obviously had to make do without the iconic guitar part, which drew attention more to the lyrics which we'd never realised were quite so wimpy when stripped away from Axl Roses' screech!
The tunes kept on coming, with brand new songs that sounded like old favourites already, "Boots In The Rain" was pure effortless country, while "Silly Little Things" was another gem in the making, If there's one thing that can make a reviewers heart sink , it is the announcement of a cover of "Landslide", as it can often be a lazy way to cover three minutes - until now. Florence managed to reinvigorate her version by slowing it down slightly and delivering an almost folky version which was quite unlike many facsimile versions we've had to sit through over the years.
Having been living with Florence's new single "Best Broken Heart" for some weeks, it seemed strange to report that this highly promising single was possibly among the weakest of her songs on the night, such was the quality of the rest of her material. So compelling and spirited was the live performance that the intensity of the
"Nobody's gonna change me" seemed quite compelling.
Florence's official "sad country song" was entitled "Love Me Then", built around the gentlest of guitar playing, it would once again display a richness of believable emotions that would mark this performance as being something special. Saving an absolute cracker to finish with in "Cut and Run", it is going to be fascinating to see how far she can go in the next 12 months, with soaring choruses like this, quite some way we would imagine. Naturally there was a demand for an encore, and "Through The Embers" provided one last magical moment with a display of vocals that showed a complete range, confidence and freedom of expression. #TEAMw21 will be catching up with her again soon for sure.
If there's one thing Florence can work on and it is the teeny tiniest of complaints on a night of many many highs, it is her repeated use of the phrase "I hope you like it" - Have faith Florence! - if they don't like it the problem is more likely with them than you!
PHOTOS BY COLIN JONES PHOTOGRAPHY