Kate Walsh - The Lowry Theatre - 26/02/08 by Richard Graham

Overlooked by mainstream music buyers Kate Walsh is an acoustic singer-songwriter based in Brighton. Initially rejected by the labels she recorded her album ‘Tim’s House’ in, yes, you guessed it – Tim’s House. Managing to release her material on iTunes last year she briefly became a phenomenon by becoming the No.1 album in the store and is comparable to both Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell.

No stranger to Manchester having played several smaller venues, she’s obviously opted to step things up a gear by deciding to play The Lowry’s Quays Theatre. Looking around the half-full (we’re positive here…) venue at the eclectic crowd (that ranged from students to pensioners) she may have overstretched herself but welcoming her warmly to the stage they still managed to fill the venue with applause. Opening with the finger picked acoustic song ‘Bury My Head’ she initially seemed timid but quickly loosened up.

Following a similar style to her album, much of the material in the show involved just herself on acoustic guitar but to provide depth to some of her songs at times she was joined by a double bassist and a second guitarist/percussionist. Moving through the set she played several songs off ‘Tim’s House’ including the crowd favourites ‘Is This It’ and ‘Don’t Break My Heart’. Interspersing the music with charming and humorous tales involving fireworks, Americans, small town mentalities and odd French Boyfriends she also quickly endeared herself to the crowd.

Whilst her stories were nothing new for those who have seen her before they still raised a chuckle and a smile for the audience and helped the night progress. Leading up to the encore she finished with a gorgeous rendition of her most popular track ‘Your Song’ and with a quick thank-you and a curtsy left the stage. Now being a slightly reserved crowd the audience politely clapped until she returned and finished the show with two new songs in the form of ‘The Greatest Love’ and the promising ‘June Last Year’.

Mixing up folk, jazz and blues there is no doubt that Kate Walsh is a talented singer-songwriter with a superb voice. Whilst at times some of her songs ventured too much into middle of the road obscurity she always quickly recovered with her own amusing anecdotes and the help of the support musicians.