St. George’s held an evening of the Early Doors Club on the 31st of May, featuring incredible music by Lily Webb and Tom Hingley. The Early Doors Club has become a favourite part of my week that I always look forward to, as it gives me the chance to support local grassroots venues and discover new musical talent. The church is a wonderful venue for gigs, providing a beautiful backdrop and creating an intimacy between the audience and the musicians with its excellent acoustics.

The talented Lily Webb was the support and opening act for the evening, setting the tone with her angelic voice and soulful music. I had seen Lily two weeks earlier at The Snug, where she supported the Fruit Tones, so I couldn’t contain my excitement for her set. I wasn’t sure if she would perform some of the same songs from her previous set, but she did change it up a little.

I could write a long list of reasons why I love Lily as an artist, but I believe her songwriting and performance speak for themselves. The combination of her beautiful voice and deep, meaningful lyrics always speaks to the audience. Her music, which explores the themes of love, breakups, and friendships, is relatable and infused with humour and creativity through her carefully crafted lyrics.

A song she performed which stood out to me detailed how despite confessions of a previous love being heartbroken is far from the truth. Rather just a short moment of meaningfulness before moving on to a new relationship or adventures. With just a touch of sarcasm Lily details how ‘one year since we met and the many tears you have cried and is your face still wet.’ The audience can immediately picture the lack of sincerity in Lily’s concerns but also with that of the subject of the song.

However, some of her lyrics within the same song detail the pain this person she loved has caused her. She expresses how, when she “cries,” she “bleeds” over the loss of the relationship and how her tears “rain and pour” like “blood shattered red.” This simple yet vivid imagery paints the heartache caused and the imbalance of suffering within the relationship. Her voice melds with the lyrics to deliver an emotional punch to the audience, one we are sure we have all felt at some point in our lives.

Headlining the show was Tom Hingley, whom you may know from bands such as Too Much Texas and as the lead vocalist for Inspiral Carpets. Hingley started from humble beginnings, collecting glasses at the Hacienda and forming Too Much Texas. His experience working at a nightclub provided the perfect backdrop to his constant interaction with music in both his personal and professional life. He joined Inspiral Carpets as the lead vocalist in 1989. Despite parting ways in 2011, he rejoined the band on numerous occasions from 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 to tour the UK.

I’ll be honest: although many people at the gig knew who Too Much Texas and Inspiral Carpets were, I didn’t. Furthermore, I did not know what to expect from Tom’s set, which, in many ways, can be seen as a blessing. I immediately loved Tom’s skilful yet emotional guitar playing. Even before he began to sing, I was already lost in a musical trance. You could see on Tom’s face the process of a musician becoming lost in his own songs, which only added more depth to the music’s delivery.

Tom’s striking, raw, and gritty voice allowed the audience to connect deeply with the melodic tones of his guitar. The lyrics painted a poignant image, describing how “a river falls down the mountain” and a “waterfall tipping over the edge,” prompting the audience to ponder whether this imagery reflected someone’s emotions or depicted an idyllic paradise. Perhaps we’ll never know for sure. However, Tom’s set brought me and much of the audience to a place of peace and contentment.

Again and again, The Early Doors Club provides the local community with opportunities to experience high-quality music gigs at grassroots venues. Programs like this are crucial for supporting the growth of grassroots venues in a society that often overlooks their significance. Against the backdrop of the stunning St George’s Church, Lily Webb and Tom Hingley delivered a heartfelt performance that I won’t soon forget.

Tom Hingley:

Twitter: @tomhingleymusic

Facebook: Tom Hingley

Website: Tom Hingley’s Official Website

Instagram: thomashingleymusic

The Early Doors Club:

Instagram: theearlydoorsclub

Facebook: The Early Doors Club

Website: The Early Doors Club Official Website

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