Luke La Volpe stopped off at Beat Generator in Dundee as part of his Music Venue Trust tour. He’s a strong advocate for the importance of grassroots venues to ensure that they continue to have a place in the music scene.
First up was Katie Nicoll. Having recently supported Callum Beattie on two Scottish dates it was nice to catch up again. We were treated to the first live acoustic performance of her new single “i just miss my dog.” Her stage presence lights up the room and you can’t help but smile when you hear her sing. Her songs are wise beyond her years and I look forward to watching her grow as an artist after having most recently been performing shows with a full band.
Catching up with Nick Shane before the show, he said he was happy to be playing on home turf after a tour of all the Scottish HMV stores. He was joined on stage by Ed Muirhead on keys which added to his sound. We were fortunate enough to be treated to his cover of Texas’ “Inner Smile” which Nick did as a Christmas single in support of WRASAC. Unfortunately, the stage wasn’t big enough for the choir but you can check the full version out on YouTube. Nick has a huge discography having been gigging for years. His range of songs provide different vibes throughout his set. His set list included “wishing well” and “Junkie”.
Luke and his guitarist Ben finally graced the stage, certainly captivating the room from the first note. This set was unlike the full electric band with horn section that some may have seen before but there was something magical about this stripped back set.
Luke’s songs are sincere; they are personal to him yet resonate with others in the audience. Enough for a husband to announce to Luke that one of his songs was going to be the first dance at their wedding!
A great set with a Gil Scott-Heron cover thrown in for good measure. It was great for a change to not be the only person (or youngest person) in a room to appreciate his art.
The show closed with Luke’s single “Terribly Beautiful” joined by Katie and Nick on backing vocals. A heartfelt moment highlighting true musicianship and support for up and coming artists.
Thanks Luke for continuing to support grassroots music venues and for allowing people to access a show they may not have done so without the wonderful help from the National Lottery.
