Last weekend, we were lucky enough to escape the gales and flash floods by seeking shelter in the historic and legendary Roundhouse, in the company of some of the most wonderful musicians. Higher Ground Festival brought together a line-up of predominantly female, genre-defying, artists for an evening of immersive music and unifying vibes.
Following some uplifting funk-fuelled sounds from DJ Tina Edwards, Irish artist Aoife Nessa Frances kicks off the live music with a beautifully stirring set. As her husky tones flow seamlessly alongside sweeping ethereal soundscapes (at times with some impressive one-handed soulful sax thrown in!), the shimmering grace of tracks such as ‘Emptiness Follows’ ooze a captivating, blissful charm.
Next up, Tawiah takes to the stage accompanied by six choral singers to deliver an immensely moving performance of last year’s Ertha – a concept album, chronicling our journey from birth to death. An utterly unique blend of alt-soul, gospel and R’n’B, Tawiah emanates a sweeping majesty and deep spiritual resonance throughout, captivating the audience with a celestial splendour. As well as being blown away by Tawiah’s breath-taking vocal range, we’re treated to a range of different sounds, from scatting to rich clarinet, all whilst she platforms the individual talent of each of the other impressive singers sharing the stage with her. A truly memorable experience, I feel honoured to have been in the company of such a colossal presence.
I think we worked out that this will have been the sixth time we’ve seen Manchester based The Orielles live, and it’s been wonderful to see them go from strength to strength and continue to create their unique offerings over the years. A very different (but no less exciting) experience from first seeing their raw buoyant energy at a very sweaty The Victoria nearly a decade ago, this performance sees Sid, Esmé and Henry joined not only by Emily Zurowski on keys, but also by a string section, to deliver unique creations from their 2022 album Tableau. Whilst I have to admit that I had been a little worried I might have missed hearing any of their older material, my concerns were unfounded: it seems that whatever The Orielles do, they maintain the ability to completely captivate – to instantly immerse the audience with not only their insightful and sophisticated songwriting and layered musicality, but their distinctive swirling energy and fierce charisma whilst on stage. They are a truly one-of-a-kind band, whose dedication to – and innovation in – honing their craft continues to inspire and excite me more with each release.
Having seen The Staves fairly recently at The Barbican for their special 10th anniversary show celebrating debut album Dead & Born & Grown, I was extra excited to see what they had in store for us for their headline set today. Although this evening saw the infamous trio reduced to just two siblings, Jessica and Camilla (with Emily presumably on ‘mat leave), accompanied by a full band, they maintained all the enchanting allure and endearing charm we’ve come to know and love. From ‘classics’ such as ‘Mexico’, through to ‘Teeth White’ and ‘Tired As Fuck, the sisters’ distinctive rich, celestial vocals emanate a harmonious perfection, whilst a subtle gritty energy twinkles cheekily throughout. Expressing their gratitude for being here, and paying dues to the female line-up (though hoping “for a time when all female line-ups aren’t a thing”) by ending the set with the empowering grace of ‘Good Woman’, The Staves continue to exude an exquisite grandeur and euphoric warmth with everything they do.
A glorious evening, celebrating the diversity and magnitude of female artistry. Thank you to all the amazing musicians, DJs and to Higher Ground and The Roundhouse for putting on the event.
Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @pauldawesart
