Laura Marling headlines first day of Other Voices festival at Wilton’s Music Hall

For over ten years the Other Voices festival has showcased unique performances from 200-year-old St. James Church in Dingle, County Kerry in Ireland. However, lucky competition winners won the opportunity to witness the delights of the festival during an unprecedented event at the iconic Wilton’s Music Hall in London. The stunning hall was also filled with a TV crew armed with cameras to beam live footage to websites, as well as pubs up and down the UK.

Girl of the moment, Laura Mvula, opened proceedings and proved why she deserves all the media hype. With shades of Nina Simone, her voice is a powerful weapon that awakens the spirit, and she delighted the crowd with the likes of She, Sing to the Moon, and Father, Father, and singles, Green Garden and That’s Alright.

Stornoway followed up with their brand of alternative indie-folk and entertained the crowd. Frontman Brian Briggs was full of wit as the quartet filled the stage with an assortment of guitars and instruments. Their buoyancy was correctly placed in light of what was to come. The group impressed with You Take Me As I Am and the captivating Ones We Hurt the Most.

Headliner Laura Marling closed the night with a remarkable poignancy and professionalism. The slight songstress exhibited the ability to hold the audience with such ease and maturity – standing on the spot, eyes to the ceiling and belting out her inner woes. Her performance of Don’t Ask Me Why and Master Hunter embodied the vocal styles of Stevie Nicks and Patti Smith respectively.

Marling has the ability to deliver spine-chilling performances due to her snarl and bottled anger. Once and Pray for Me showcase the singers lyrical talent and her ability to engage with her descriptive storytelling. Her unerring presence is hypnotising as she nonchalantly delivers herself in a focused trance. Marling completed the set with the captivating Should You Choose – closing what was a fantastic event.

Verdict: •••••

Samuel Mensah

Photos: Richard Gilligan

For further information on Other Voices and future events visit here.