Joanne Shaw Taylor opened her latest UK tour at The Forum in Bath last night, bringing her distinctive blend of blues and rock to an appreciative crowd. Warm, relaxed and engaging, she quickly struck up a rapport with the audience, mixing humour and easy conversation between songs with a performance that showed both her talent and her personality.
On stage, Joanne remains one of the most distinctive artists in her field. Her guitar work was as sharp and characterful as ever, rooted in raw blues but with a rock edge that gave the music real drive. What truly set her apart, though, was the combination of those guitar skills with her wonderful voice – gritty, soulful and distinctive, it carried just as much weight and emotion as her solos.
The band was tight and assured, clearly enjoying themselves most when powering through the harder blues-rock numbers, where the energy levels lifted and the sound had real punch. The more mainstream, melodic tracks were well delivered and added variety to the set, but the band and crowd alike seemed most alive when the music leaned into its blues roots.
The setlist drew from across her career, combining established fan favourites with material from her most recent album Black & Gold. There was even a stunningly soulful cover of Summertime, which allowed her voice to take centre stage and showed another side to her range as a performer.
By the end of the night, the impression was of an artist who combines considerable technical ability with a warm and likeable stage presence. Joanne Shaw Taylor’s mix of distinctive guitar, powerful vocals and personable delivery made for a strong opening to her UK tour and a reminder of why she continues to stand out in the blues rock world.
For more information on upcoming gigs at The Forum Bath, click here
