By Daniel Fitton
In launch of his debut EP ‘In the Face of It All’, Manchester singer/songwriter James Holt impressed a captivated audience at the King’s Arms in Salford last Saturday. With his rock ‘n’ roll / folk vibe, clearly inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan and The Beatles, Holt provided a superb performance in front of a crowd of around fifty. Highlights from the night include his unique take on Beatles numbers ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ and ‘Ticket To Ride’, his dry sense of humour on stage, akin to his striking performance of ‘Whatever Happened to John?’, a track which is frequently played on BBC Radio Manchester, and has been described as “brisk, funny, fresh and exciting to listen to,” by well-known producer Brian Eno, whom previously worked with the likes of David Bowie, Coldplay and Paul Simon.
Perhaps most impressive about the 21 year old is that he writes, plays and records all featured instruments himself, though this comes as no surprise when learning that he is currently studying a masters in composition at Salford University. With a voice that amalgamates to that of John Lennon and Jake Bugg, his expertise in composition resonates through his music, with melodies tending to start simple, but evolve into something progressively more complex and intricate, particularly present on his track ‘To Go Where the Wind Blows’.
Furthermore, th
e concert was enhanced by standout performances of the chilling song ‘Alone Again and Always’ and the melodic ‘Promises at Dawn’. The soft-sounding ‘I Thought You Were Crying (But It Was Just the Rain)’ also showed a nice variation and versatility to his music.
With his friends and family watching, Holt was appreciative of the support he received, making a conscious effort to thank those who made it all possible. Moreover, he played a number of new and unreleased songs, which were as equally popular as the tracks on the EP. Before leaving the stage, an audience member requested an older song of his: ‘If You’ve Ever Been Down Moss Bank Way’, a lucid and dreamy song inspired by his hometown Bolton, which he happily sang to round off the show. A well-deserved applause loudly erupted as the hour-long show came to an end.
I’d imagine that the local talent went home a happy man, after delivering a splendid performance. More importantly, he provided a great advertisement for his brand new EP ‘In The Face of It All’ which is available now.
To find out more visit: www.jamesholtmusic.com
Daniel is a second year Politics and Philosophy student with a keen interest in music, sport, Netflix and Reddit. Follow him on Twitter @dannyfitton10
Featured image: Isabelle Dargue A powerful new film documenting Manchester’s Lights Up movement will premiere at The Savoy Cinema on 9 March as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. Lights Up is a free, community-led event organised by Bee Pedal Ready and Station South in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, We Are Cycling UK, MCRActive,…
Featured image: David Lindsay Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow will return to the decks for a special guest vinyl DJ set at The Garden Bar in Chorlton later this month. Chow, known for his distinctive geometric minimalist portraits of figures from Manchester and wider pop culture, is returning to his roots with an exclusive free DJ…
Following the passing of iconic Stone Roses and Primal Scream Bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mountfield, there have been growing calls for him to be immortalised in a way that reflects both his cultural impact and the deep affection shared between the musician and his home city. GRIT Studios has answered the calls from fans, announcing plans…
Featured image: Evie Peattie Often overshadowed in popular narratives by the heritage houses of Paris or Milan, London’s fashion ecosystem has long traded on creative freedom. As London Fashion Week prepares for its 42nd year, running from the 19 to 23 February, the British capital is poised to reaffirm its reputation not simply as a…
Leave a reply