Margo Cilker clearly has a strong affinity with this part of the world. It is a connection forged, in part, by her time living in Bilbao when she “spent her days in the pub with the lads from Leeds.” That is presumably when and where she became acquainted with the repetitive tribal chant of “Yorkshire, Yorkshire…,” one that is often accompanied by what she describes as a “swaying action.” Her efforts to engage the audience in this communal expression of local pride sadly fails, but for the other 75 minutes of her delightful performance tonight, the American country musician has everyone right there in the palm of her hand.
When she and her band – guitarist Forrest Van Tuyl, Tom Bailey on upright bass, and Joana Serrat, who as well as providing piano accompaniment to Margo Cilker is also the support act on this English leg of the tour (more of whom later) – had arrived in Leeds earlier today, Cilker tells us “there was a good feeling.” And this air of positivity transfers to the stage tonight, enhanced by the intimate, inclusive vibe of this lovely venue.
Margo Cilker opens with ‘Lowland Trail,’ the first track from her second album, 2023’s quite marvellous Valley of Heart’s Delight and ends 14 songs later with a richly deserved encore of ‘Flood Plain’ from that record’s predecessor, Pohorylle. In between there are older songs – ‘Trucker Speed’ has to be the best truck-driving tune this side of Little Feat’s ‘Willin’’; newer songs – recent single ‘Rose of Nowhere,’ co-written with her husband Forrest Van Tuyl and one of the night’s many, many highlights; and cover versions of which Cilker’s interpretation of fellow American songwriter Stephanie Davis’s ‘Wolves’ is absolutely divine.
Each and every one of these songs – vignettes of a life well-travelled – illustrate the extraordinary scope of Margo Cilker’s talent, her ability as a storyteller, and innate capacity to distil the very essence of country and western music into less than an hour and a half. The fact that they are conveyed with such warmth and remarkable self-deprecation merely adds to their charm.
Making the evening complete is the earlier set from the Catalan singer-songwriter Joana Serrat, now domiciled in London. Eight songs in total, half of which are drawn from her 2021 album, the excellent Hardcore From The Heart and include a sublime cover of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘I’m On Fire’ which is transformed here into a Catalan ‘Cremo Per Dins.’ Deeply atmospheric reflections on life, love, and lonely hotel rooms, Serrat’s songs, like Cilker’s, are perfectly-formed stories. “Summer never ends” she sings. Tonight, you feel this year it has only just begun.
A Brudenell Presents and Please Please You promotion.
Photos: Simon Godley
More photos of Margo Cilker and Joana Serrat at The Attic in Leeds
