Willy Mason and Matthew & The Atlas

Support artist Matthew and The Atlas was a fitting warm-up act in this intimate environment, with a haunting, hoarse voice reminiscent of Ray LaMontagne, Bon Iver and melodies not too unlike Damien Rice, making him very much apart of the new-folk movement at the moment (he also supported Mumford & Sons recently)

Willy Mason’s set was very stripped back; one man in an all-in black suit with just his guitar, referring to us as ‘y’all,’ and sipping on whisky – somewhat similar to a young Johnny Cash. ‘Oxygen’ and ‘We Can Be Strong’ certainly had everyone singing in unison: ‘on and on and on it goes, the world it just keeps spinning’, and in new song ‘Restless Fugitive,’ he asked for the audience to help. With a broken guitar-tuner, and stating: ‘I’m doing this the old-fashioned way,’ the set cried out authenticity and that alt-folk was Willy’s craft as he managed a very modest performance.

Brighton Ballroom, 8 August 2012
[Rating: 4/5]
Laura Burgess