Adam Beattie and Samantha Whates

Wednesday 26th June 2019
secret woodland location near Canterbury

Support set from Harry Hayes and Fergus Baynes, playing their new stuff (and a cover of Fred Neil's "The Dolphins"). Interesting song structures, and Harry honing his falsetto String-Band-style vocals. Switching guitars each song and alternating rhythm/lead. The wind in the trees was pretty noisy and almost overpowered them at times, but it just meant everyone listened more intently.

The main act was meant to be Adam's recent four-piece project Pica Pica (who have an album out on Rough Trade), but they couldn't all make it, so we got overlapping solo sets from him and Samantha Whates (they sang backing vocals on a couple of each others' songs, and encored with a Pica Pica song). Gorgeous. "The Man Who Loves Too Much" (with audience singalong) was a real highlight. The next day Samantha told me that she'd once toured with Ed Sheeran when he was unknown, and he later included her song "Granny's House" in his set for some time...but she was too proud?amused?bewildered?intimidated? to ever follow this up and see if she could get the royalties she should be owed. Kudos for not bothering to mention that during her set!