Amy Wadge

At The Gig

Every now and then you get that extra special night and this was one of them. As Amy Wadge was doing her sound check, Dave the Cluny manager said he had just had a phone call from the support band to say they were running late.

What support band?

Neither we nor Amy were aware of a support so it was quite a surprise when Mary Lee's Corvette walked through the door. It seems there was a problem of communications with management, but we were delighted to see her anyway. It was just a pity that we did not told in advance to let her Northeast fans know she was appearing. As a further bonus, Mary Lee was supported by the excellent Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar.

Not phased by the cock-up, Mary Lee's Corvette took to the stage and gave us an excellent 30 minutes.

Her vocal qualities are striking with a well balanced blend of power and sensitivity. The set also had a good mix of songs including some from her latest album, Love loss & Lunacy. This lady is an excellent song writer and is certainly on the up. If you get the opportunity, go and see her. By the way, well done to Jim Kirkpatrick who was first class on guitar.

After the break it was time for Amy. At this point we should mention the football. Arsenal were playing Barcelona in the final of the Champions League Cup which was live on TV, so we knew that audience numbers would be affected. It probably was, but we were delighted with the higher than expected crowd and boy, were they enthusiastic.

Amy has a shed loads of charisma and grabs the audience instantly. Her voice is distinctive  packed with passion and supported by her skills as a musician. Amy showed great confidence on guitar and piano and was selective in using some excellent effects which added to the full feel of the music.

At the drop of a hat, she had the audience talking to her and of course singing with her. no, not a folk club job, just a superb atmosphere with people enjoying fabulous lyrics.

After the gig, one guy said, "We won't see her in a gig like this again, she will be too big for here so it will be the City Hall next time".  We are sure Amy is set for the big time, but we do hope to persuade her to play the Cluny one more time towards the end of the year.

CannyGigs is delighted one of the finest 'new' talents in the country.

“The new Joni Mitchell”

We first became aware of Amy Wadge back in 2002 when she was the support for an Eric Bibb gig. I usually stay in the bar until the main act is due on stage to ease any redundancy fears at the brewery, but for some reason I decided to pop into the auditorium to listen to the first number. That was me stuck for the whole set. Amy Wadge held me and everyone else with her distinctive vocals, excellent lyrics, superb stage charm and I guess because she looks good.

So, four years later she has finally re-emerged with a new album No Sudden Moves which is a bit special.  The mainstream music writers have also spotted this talented lass.  Q Magazine said “A pint sized poetess with Valley quaking voice. Her songs have a raw vibrancy that suit her earthy voice and emotionally mature lyrics”.  The London Evening Standard was also positive, “The new Joni Mitchell, with her distinctive voice and well-crafted songs”.  And even the Big Issue have pitched in with “Amy is a ray of light one moment shot through with sorrow the next. Her voice is amazing and it's suddenly clear why she's getting so much recognition”

It is not usually as obvious that someone is destined for the top, but with Amy Wadge it looks like her time is almost here. Although we run the gig, I would happily pay the small £7.00 ticket price to see her perform at the Newcastle Cluny. Just think, a few years ago would you have rushed out to see K. T. Tunstall or Katie Melua at any price? But, as we all know, overnight successes take several years to happen, so here is a brief background to Amy Wadge’s journey.

She was brought up just outside Bristol. Her father's passion for music influenced her enormously and she was exposed to the sounds of everyone from The Beatles to Elton John, Pink Floyd to Joni Mitchell. She started writing her own songs at the age of nine, originally on the family piano. Then age eleven her parents bought her first guitar from a junk shop and she taught herself to play along to Tracy Chapman's debut album.

While still at school, she regularly gigged around Bristol's numerous music venues, caught the performing bug and at the age of 14, signed the first record deal with her band 'Two of a Mind' and released her first single at the age of 16.  She then moved to Wales to study acting.

Having graduated and despite enjoying 12 busy months as a professional actor, Amy decided to return to her first love, music by doing Open Mic sessions in Cardiff's Toucan Club. She was quickly spotted and received encouragement from some of the big players in the city, among them, Manics, Catatonia and Super Furry Animals producer, Greg Haver who recorded her debut mini-album, The Famous Hour.

She impressed at the Cambridge Folk Festival, was voted Best Female Solo Act at the 2002 Welsh Music Awards and gained support slots for Van Morrison, Bob Geldoff, Damien Rice, Eric Bibb and did the entire Jeff Beck 2004 UK.

Amy has recorded two further albums, Woj (get it?) and the new one No Sudden Moves. In addition, she has recently co-written tracks with Marti Pellow and Chris Difford for Marti's forthcoming album.  And what does Amy have to say? “I suppose I was a born show-off, but it really is something I didn’t have much choice in.  I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I couldn’t perform or be creative.”

You’ve been tipped the wink, so get yourself a ticket to see on of the new kids on the block as she comes around the corner

What ‘they' said about her

'Pint sized poetess with Valley quaking voice. Her songs have a raw vibrancy that suit her earthy voice and emotionally mature lyrics' - Q magazine

'The new Joni Mitchell, with her distinctive voice and well-crafted songs' - London Evening Standard

Amy is a ray of light one moment shot through with sorrow the next. Her voice is amazing and it's suddenly clear why she's getting so much recognition' - Big Issue

'A rangy, tough-but-tender voice' - Venue Magazine

'Deeply impressive' - Honk Magazine

'The Voice of her generation - a star is born' - Ouest-France

 www.amywadge.com