Live: Adelaide’s Cape @ The Gladstone, London Bridge

Helen True — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:32:07 +0000

It’s rare that I write a gig review that begins with a discussion of the venue, but in this case I feel I have little choice in the matter. The Gladstone is a lovely little pub round the corner from Borough Tube. They serve great real ales and Pieminister pies, and there’s plenty of places to sit and enjoy the music. But the sound was managed abominably badly and Adelaide’s Cape’s set began with some ear-bleedingly loud and sustained feedback that blighted the otherwise very laid-back atmosphere.

Main moan over, Sam Taylor approached his less-than-perfect surroundings with class and humour, and suceeded in giving a largely effortless, and rather impressive, performance. He opened with a stunning Nick Drake cover, ‘Black-eyed dog’, which drew silence from the merry folk tucking into their cakes and ale.

In a later song, we heard a description of a literate travelling lady, so heavily-laden with the names of classic authors (Kafka, Hemmingway – the usual suspects) that I began to suspect that Adelaide’s Cape might make a rather suitable gentleman friend (lyrically-speaking at least) for Emmy the Great.

Taylor’s resonator guitar ensures that his bluegrass credentials are second-to-none, and the pairing of delicate playing with the slight graininess of his Scottish tones is an utter pleasure to hear. The set closed with ‘Anchored Down’, a sea travel song referring to ‘flotsam & jetsam and all their friends’, the finger-picking on which was a true wonder to behold. This boy’s got incredible digits and he’s not afraid to let you know.

Now, moan the second: if you’re an alcoholic with no social skills and a rather inflated sense of your own ability to be hilarious, it’s best not to sit at the front for an acoustic gig. In fact, you’d be better off going to any of the millions of pubs in London without live music. I’ve never wished more that I was at a paid-for gig, because prats like the one I refer to here would never part with a fiver for the privilege of being that rude. Adelaide’s Cape deserves a darn sight more respect than he was afforded at the Gladstone tonight.

Words: Helen True

Adelaide’s Cape to Launch EP

Jack Phillips — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:58:57 +0000

Fresh from touring with First Aid Kit, Alessi’s Ark and Racheal Dadd, Adelaide’s Cape will be releasing their debut EP ‘Last Sleep In Albion’ at The Luminaire on 6th March. For the first time, they’ll be playing their lo-fi folk with the help of an 8-piece ‘Folk Orchestra’ which sounds frankly unmissable.

Pete Roe, Laish and Alex Sheppard will be joining the duo on the night for the Dustbowl Records release before they embarks on a month-long UK tour. If you aren’t lucky enough to make the launch, you’ll be able to get your hands on a copy of the mighty-fine ‘Last Sleep In Albion’ through Rough Trade, Puregroove or RecordStore.co.uk.

Get your tickets here.

Adelaide’s Cape

Lynn Roberts — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:51:30 +0000

Download their double A-side Curled/Harbour from Rawrip.

For Folk's Sake » Adelaide’s Cape

Live: Adelaide’s Cape @ The Gladstone, London Bridge

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