Special Guest: Marcus Hummon

Reviewer: John Roberts

The Public Reviews Rating:

Currently touring the globe to promote her latest album ‘Back to Love’ Beth Neilsen Chapman & special guest Marcus Hummon land in the UK to perform in front of a warm and welcoming 1600 strong audience at Manchester’s beautiful and atmospheric Bridgewater Hall.

Although I have and will admit to being a fan of Beth’s music, I would take a guess that unless you are an avid country/pop/folk fan then the likelihood of you consciously knowing her music would be pretty slim, but when you read her biography you will see that her music has been used on soundtracks for numerous films and TV programmes including ‘Calendar Girls’, ‘Where the Heart Is’, E.R, and Dawson’s Creek to name a few (and yes it was the latter during my informative teen years where I stumbled upon Beth’s music…ok guilty secret out in the open.) Beth was also the writing talent behind Faith Hill’s number one smash hit ‘This Kiss.’

Beth’s music is instantly likable with her blend of inoffensive County/Folk and laid back pop infusions which when added to her infectious personality which radiates as much as her enigmatic smile, you can’t help but be caught up in the transcending magic of her music.

Beth is a rare performer that not only has a real depth in the way she brings across her songs to her audience, but is also quite open and frank about where her inspiration for most of her songs come from: whether that be from losing her husband, fighting and winning her battle with both Breast Cancer and a Brain Tumour or a song about her own quirks and bad habits. It is through this openness that as an audience we are not only merely listeners but we become welcomed guests into a voyeuristic and musical journey which helps bridge that sometimes ever so obvious performer/audience gap.

Beth gives us an evening of ranging repertoire from most of the tracks from her current album and some classic songs from her extensive back catalogue meaning as an audience we are treated to over two hours of her fantastic material. Beth is joined on stage in Manchester by local silver band ‘ Besses o’the Barn’ who bring an welcome dynamic and depth to Neilsen Chapman’s songs. From the set this evening particular favourites of mine being; ‘ All I Have’ which managed to bring me out in Goosebumps. The strong melody of ‘Hallelujah’ which was instantly lifted by Eilidh Patterson’s generous and full backings (her album When the Time Comes’ is available to download online. ) The upbeat Bluegrass number – ‘I can see me loving you’ was an instant hit with the audience and should be released as a single and no evening with Beth would be complete without a storming rendition of the song that, as she puts it “put her son through college” This Kiss.

Joining Beth and opening on her tour is Grammy award winning country music singer/songwriter Marcus Hummon who has penned several hit numbers for The Dixie Chicks. Hummon being brought out of retirement by Beth after ten Marcus gives a pleasurable 30 minute set which gets the audience in a great frame of mind for what was to come in the second half. With a warm velvety tone Hummon reminds me of John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting although his music styling is a little more personable and mellow, with a personal and very touching song about a 14 year old girl being trafficked from Honduras being of particular strength of poignancy from his set.

Not everything was pitch perfect in this otherwise splendid evening, the sound mix was at times so misjudged that even in row L some of the lyrics during the more upbeat numbers were almost inaudible due to the overwhelming loudness of the instruments but that is little niggle. Overall this was a highly enjoyable evening with two of the finest singer/songwriters to come out of Nashville, and I for one will be first in the queue for a ticket when Beth announces her next UK tour.

Beth was reviewed at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on the 7th March 2010

For more information on Beth Neilsen Chapman visit her website by clicking HERE

Tags: Besses 'o' the Barn, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Bridgewater Hall, Eilidh Patterson, Live Music, Manchester, Marcus Hummon