Julia Fordham performing her Porcelain 25 Tour at The Lowdham Village Hall on Friday 14th November 2014


 

Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Julia Fordham dropped in for a meal at the local pub before crossing the road to play a night of her Porcelain 25 Tour at The Lowdham Village Hall. As the name of the tour suggests, she is celebrating 25 years since the release of her album, Porcelain, and tonight she performed it in its entirety.

Accompanying her on stage was her long time pianist and the original album producer, Grant Mitchell and her percussionist, Pav. She told us the story of how Pav was at the stage door after her London gig and he told her that he was a huge fan of the album. After having a chat with him she invited him to play at Lowdham, and a sterling job he did too. In fact many of the numbers such as Towerblock were really enhanced with his musicianship.

Stating the evening gently with Lock & Key, Fordham showed that she has lost none of her jazzy, yet soulful vocal range. Other numbers included Island, Prince Of Peace, Girlfriend and obviously, the sublime Porcelain. Finishing the first part of her set with You’re A Lovely Face, this audience, many of whom had seen her before, eagerly waited for the second half.

Finishing with the remainder of the album, she could not help but include her big hit, Love Moves In Mysterious Ways. Fordham, with her grace and elegance, is certainly an acquired taste, but this packed Village Hall clearly loved every minute of it.