Bill Ryder-Jones, Thekla, Bristol - 17th March 2024

Bill Ryder-Jones in Brighton - Credit Unknown

Unusually for an artist about to enthrall an audience for ninety minutes, Bill Ryder-Jones gets the niceties out of the way early on.

As he and his six-strong band take to the stage, he immediately thanks those who purchased recent album Iechyd Da before getting down to business, acknowledging that they have a lot of songs to get through.

With a steadily burgeoning back catalogue to choose from that’s no surprise, even if tonight’s set consists of tracks from three of his six studio albums (albeit Yawn & Yawny Yawn covering the same ground), yet there is no shred of arrogance or even confidence, as he has to jokingly (one assumes) reassure himself, muttering, ‘This is a totally normal thing to be doing on a Sunday night, it’s fine’.

In contrast to support act Brooke Bentham, whose soaring vocals filled the venue (even with a depressingly chatty crowd), Ryder-Jones’ hushed tones add to the intimate and reverent vibes, even with a packed stage.

https://www.live4ever.uk.com/bill-ryder-jones-thekla-review/