Culture Music Live music

Arc Iris at Rough Trade West

Arc Iris at Rough Trade West | Live review

An explosion of different music genres – from soft to celtic , from classical to country – it is impossible to define Arc Iris of Rhode Island. They cite inspiration from 70s folk, pop and country traditions as well as cabaret, jazz and classical.

The band was formed by Jocie Adams, member of Low Anthem, and now singer, composer and guitar and pianist of Arc Iris with very young musicians: Zach Tenorio Miller (piano), Ray Belli (drums) Max Johnson (bass), Robin Ryczik (cello), Charlie Rose (pedal steel, trombone), and Mike Irwin (trumpet).

Last night four out of six Arc Iris members performed in the basement at Rough Trade West to promote their debut album of their same name . The atmosphere was happy and cosy, all of them were wearing bright, glittering clothes: Adams in particular sporting golden overalls, sequins on her face and electric blue eyeliner. Her engaging and spontaneous personality was not only evident in musical arrangements but also in the multiform scripts.

In an hour-long concert they played all the Arc Iris songs with a lot of energy and enthusiasm: from the cabaret-style Singing So Sweetly to the ballad Canadian Cowboy. The a cappella harmonisation of Whiskey Man stood out and the folky Money Gnomes was a treat for the dancers in the room.

Arc Iris put on a very passionate, talented and engaging show: check out their album as soon as you can.

Ludovica Uggeri

For further information and future events visit Arc Iris’s website here.

Watch the video for Singing So Sweetly here:

More in Live music

The Midnight at Brixton Academy

Daisy Grace Greetham

“Make what you wish existed”: Jacob Collier on The Light for Days at EartH

Talitha Stowell

Lauren Spencer Smith at Hammersmith Apollo

Tallulah Allen

Sigur Rós at the Royal Albert Hall: “Hearing Ára bátur was a full-circle moment”

Filippo L'Astorina, the Editor

Damiano David at Roundhouse

Talitha Stowell

Ocean Alley at Alexandra Palace

Nina Doroushi

OneRepublic at the O2 Arena

Katherine Parry

Dermot Kennedy at the Forum

Tallulah Allen

Haiden Henderson at the Garage

Dionysia Afolabi