The final leg of the inaugural ‘Northern Songbirds’ tour came to Liverpool, in the ever more intimate setting of the Kazimier Stockroom. It felt small enough on my first visit a month ago but this time a curtain across one side and a lengthy merch stand on the other meant a tighter squeeze. It took nothing away from the atmosphere, full of dependable listeners and excitable fans of the four girls who graced the stage.
Unlike the other dates, which took the form of a writers round, this one was a series of mini sets by first, Susannah Clegg, then Zoe Unsworth, followed by Amy-Jo and finally Bronnie. What stood out was the eclectic mix of styles – showcasing the breadth of Country Music in the present day. We went from Clegg‘s old-style classic to Unsworth‘s blues-soaked sound; Amy-Jo‘s catchy Country pop to Bronnie‘s passionate punk rock. Threaded throughout was a penchant for storytelling, and a championing of each other’s music that felt refreshing.
Susannah Clegg began proceedings, with a solo performance that demanded no accompaniment. Her strong Midwestern vocal and accomplished guitar playing were enough to echo the sounds of yesteryear. Zoe Unsworth then brought a dash of the contemporary – piano and bass mixing well with fiddle to communicate heartfelt (‘Home’) and happy (‘On the Dancefloor’) to great effect. Her final song was ideal in setting up Amy-Jo, whose first ever live set with a full band drew out her usual pop and RnB vibes well. It was just a shame that the feedback from her mic was so distracting. It was a rare blot on a night that saw Bronnie headlining with some of her more anthemic tracks. ‘Own Girl, Own World’ and ‘Tea for Two’ going down well with a home crowd who were treated to a version of her earlier punk incarnation in the form of ‘Scream’ to end.
All four then took to the stage for an extended encore, in which each of the four cover tracks matched their respective styles. Clegg’s fabulous rendition of Loretta Lynn’s ‘You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)’ was a highlight, with ‘Girl Crush’ bringing the curtain down on a tour that seems to have had enough success for future dates to have already been mooted. And when someone as highly esteemed as Katy Hurt has enjoyed herself, singing along and dancing at the back, one can only assume that they’ve done something right, and will indeed be back.
This was written after attending the Northern Songbirds tour on 8th March 2026 at the Kazimier Stockroom Liverpool. You can check out the music of Bronnie, Susannah Clegg, Zoe Unsworth and Amy-Jo by clicking on their respective names here.
Featured Image (C) The Northern Songbirds
desperatelylostcity.com 