Review: Emmy The Great @ Library, Lancaster (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Review: Emmy The Great @ Library, Lancaster

10:03am Tuesday 11th October 2011 in Gig and concert reviews By Emma Lidiard, Reporter

ROCK-folk songtress Emmy The Great had the room bopping and moving when she and her five-piece band took centre stage at Lancaster Library.

Anyone who hasn't managed to get down to Get It Loud yet really should as you are missing out.

The word intimate doesn't go far enough to describe the close interaction between crowds and performers.

Emmy and her band could be seen dancing along with revellers checking out the support acts before they hit the stages themselves.

The proximity and overall atmosphere of the gig made it feel like Emma was playing a personal concert just for me with her relaxed, entertaining persona on stage adding to the effect – making me feel I should almost reply to her on stage conversation.

Swapping between her electric and classical guitar, the tempo jumped from smoothing acoustic songs to foot-stamping folky-rock hits.

Iris, from the new album Virtue written about her fiancée leaving them for God, was a real highlight from the gig.

Her gentle voice against light drum beats and wacky keyboard effects made for a real treat.