Greg McDonald, formerly of The Dawn Parade, is the first act to step onto the boards tonight. Joined for part of his set by backing singers Catherine McDonald and Emily Jukes, McDonald creates an eerie take on folk music, painting vivid images with his lyrics, key examples being Cheap Flight to Paradise and Fairytale of New Cross.

Lupen Crook and the Murderbirds stomp into life with their brutally ominous punk folk, startling the small audience with their vicious edge. Staring intimidatingly at the few people before him, Crook snarls and taunts his way through songs from his debut album Accidents Occur Whilst Sleeping, such as Here 2 B Friends and 6=8. With his Murderbirds adding to the whole dark affair, complete with percussion created on saucepans, Crook ends the set with his one off single Lucky 6 and with a final sneer strides off stage and into the darkness.

Finally, finishing off the night of unique, and slightly creepy, singer/songwriters is Carina Round, a Midlands born girl who is often compared to PJ Harvey without actually sounding much like her at all. With a powerful and intense voice and a stage presence and charisma much larger than her small frame, it’s hard to move your eyes from the stage as Round delights the transfixed audience with songs such as Downslow, Lacuna and Come to You. Sometimes howling, sometimes yelping, it’s hard to predict what Round is going to do next; partially what makes her so enjoyable to watch. A captivating, spirited talent, who really should be more well-known than she is, Round is by far one of the best female performers this country has to offer today.

Writer: Rhian Daly

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