Walking into Strawberry Fields and hearing Motel Sundown sing about Memories, Dreams and Reflections felt a bit like a sign. I had been regrettably late up to that point, thanks to Sunday afternoon traffic and cancelled trains. But then to catch such a chorus floating on the breeze as I ventured into the place made famous by The Beatles caused a rethink. For their words made me think back to the journey I used to do to Calderstones Park, just over the road, every week for a time. And with it a sense of gratitude that I had been able to retrace my steps. To take again the number 86 bus to Allerton Road and walk up to The Reader before carrying on to this newly-discovered destination.
Suddenly, the calm serenity of the place washed over me, along with the harmonies that Motel Sundown deliver so well. My fifteen-minute delay then paled into insignificance and I was caught up in their tender and percussive musical style, thankful for the opportunity to simply be here as the memories continued to swirl. The trio always remind me of Fleetwood Mac. Listen to ‘Waterfall’ for instance and there are definite echoes of ‘Landslide’ within it. And as Robert Johnson’s harder vocal meets the softer sounds of Karen Turley and Naomi Campbell on ‘Eldorado’, comparisons with The Wandering Hearts come instantly to mind. Their set is over far too soon, completed by the slightly ironic ‘Winter Sun’, on a glorious June day in a chilly, shady clearing.
If any of the hugely appreciative crowd were finding it cold then Katy Hurt’s brand of Country-Rock was just the antidote. ‘The Kiss’ is very Shania in many ways whilst the cameras pointed and a few heads started to bang once ‘Revved Up’ got going. ‘See Ya Later’ offered a barnstorming finish to the afternoon but not before some of her more thoughtful songs commanded attention too. Upcoming single ‘Oh Girl’ was a beautifully reflective ballad, all the more so in such an intimate outdoor space as this. Meanwhile, ‘Unfinished Business’ held its usual spine-tingling poignancy, even as it held new meaning for me, causing me to shed a tear beneath the tall trees swaying over an empathetic sun.
For their first foray into one-off events, Black Deer Live seem to have struck gold. With plenty more to come right across the UK, this appears to be an exciting next adventure, branching out from their annual Festival walls. And as they look to new horizons so I looked back on those memories, dreams and reflections that began earlier in the day. To consider how far I’ve come in the last few years. To remember how anxious I was when first coming to Calderstones. And how attending live gigs like this has become such a natural and pivotal part of my life.
I came for the music but it seems Strawberry Fields wanted to give me something different and unexpected.
To find out more about Black Deer Live and their planned shows over the course of this year, click here.
Featured Image (C) Black Deer
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