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HARLEIGH BLU AT THE SPOTTED DOG

11-08-2009

Harleigh Blu

It’s not my type of music and I don’t do reviews so why am I writing an article about the Harleigh Blu gig at the Spotted Dog last Thursday?

Possibly because I want to be able to say I saw her before she was famous, definitely because I want to share this tip for the top with fellow Stirrers. Her website says that her music is soul, funk, reggae and soul - funk with a modern twist is how I would describe it. At least half of her Spotted Dog set comprised original songs written by the 17 year old performer from Nottingham.

So at what point did I decide I was listening to something special? It was when I closed my eyes during one of Harleigh’s compositions and tried to work out whether I’d rather listen to her on the way into work rather than Linkin Park. Indeed, the range, strength and originality of the voice of this singer-songwriter had the intimate audience at the Spotted Dog mesmerised and would take any artist a long way, but there’s more.

For a start, this is an artist who is prepared to put her heart into her compositions and has an honesty and freshness that most established singers struggle to find. Managing to be confident and unpretentious at the same time, she’s got a demeanour that could melt an iceberg or indeed a heavy metal fan.

Her choices of cover songs from Marley to Kings Of Leon also suggests that this little songbird has an independent spirit – she will be setting rather than following trends. Her interpretations of each of the songs she covered demonstrated creativity and talent in equal measures. I reckon this young lady could turn a nursery rhyme into an anthem. All this and she’s got a smashing band around who, who look like they know they have struck gold. To keep up-to-date with Harleigh’s next steps check out her myspace page.

Have any fellow Stirrers seen a star turn play before they were famous? Could you tell they were on their way?

Today's edition of The Stirrer edited by PragueTory - Dominic Fisher