REVIEW:

RAMIN KARIMLOO

The Concorde Club

By Alan Johns

IT’S always a pleasure to see your favourite West End stars, but the opportunity to experience them up-front and personal is rare and consequently not to be missed. Ramin Karimloo’s appearance in Eastleigh was one of those occasions and a packed house confirmed it. The show was opened by singer-songwriter Rob Richings who shared self-penned songs from his new album Parkas and Boots. Unaware of the significance (football-wise), he shared that he came from Swindon, to much good-humoured banter. His seven-song set was warmly received and included Fireworks, Richer Man and Lord of The Attic before closing with Killer Amongst Us, a poignant tale written after a chance meeting with a refugee. Accompanied by his Broadgrass Band, led by the very personable and accomplished Matt Harvey on guitar, with Jessie Linden on percussion and backing vocals, Georgina Leach on fiddle and ‘The Duke’ on double-bass, the set kicked off with a version of Cat Stevens’ Wild World. The genre-swing was both surprising and delightful throughout the banter-filled eighty-minute set, continuing by diving straight into Till I Hear You Sing Once More from Love Never Dies, followed by Sarah from last year’s Murder Ballad. Another curved-ball next – Edelweiss, sung sincerely, followed by a selection from his new album, with the self-penned songs not out of place against such heavyweights. A stunning trio of classics followed, beginning with Bring Him Home, with just Ramin’s banjo accompaniment, Evita’s High Flying Adored and Being Alive, from Company. More songs from his own back-catalogue followed before a passionate Old Man River and the gentle Hushaby Mountain led us into the encore, including a rousing Oh What A Beautiful Morning before closing with the country favourite Will The Circle Be Unbroken. The circle of Ramin’s followers seems totally rock-solid on this showing. A night to remember!