The end of lockdown was marked by a first trip out to see live music. Having listened to local girl made good Lady Nade’s excellent Willing album (reviewed here) her live show was hotly anticipated, at least in this house. I wrote about it for Americana UK at the time, and one of the musical pleasures of the nearly 18 months since then has been her steady rise. She’s played Nashville, supported the sublime Alison Russell, done festivals, recorded a single with Boo Hewerdine and now she’s on tour supporting the Willing album, which despite being 18 months old still sounds as fresh as on day one.
Her three albums all have reasons to buy them, although the songs and the presentation have progressed massively in the 6 years since ‘Hard To Forget’. On that album ‘Waiting for You’, the title song and ‘Those Late Nights’ stand out as the best of a more than satisfying debut. ‘Safe Place’ from 2019 is a step forward. From opening song ‘Looking for Love’ it is a soulful delight. Mixing bits of Americana and 70s style soft rock on songs like ‘Sweet Honey Bee’ and ‘Natalie’ gives the touch of variety that makes this her first great album.
‘Willing’ however is a totally different prospect, rawer yet at the same time smoother, she has learnt to inhabit her voice more completely. Remaking ‘Complicated’ which was a slightly diffident acoustic song on the first album, and adding in organ and pedal steel transform this into a country soul of real substance. It would be easy to just list out the songs and tell you why each one is worth your attention, but you should just go an listen to them instead. This is the work of a mature artist stepping into her power as a singer, writer and bandleader.
At the Bath Americana Fest in July we were lucky enough to enjoy a lengthy chat with Lady Nade after her set. It was interesting to talk to another Bristol resident about the city and matters arising. All I can say is that you need her Ain’t One Thing Daiquiri tea towel in your life. Find it at her merch stall online.
In my review of her show this summer in Bath I suggested that it would likely be the last chance to see her on a small stage. And also that her cover of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s ‘My Journey To The Sky’ was good enough to demand an album of Sister Rosetta covers. Well she has recorded a single of it, and it will be great.
Buy her music here
