On a warm summer evening Kerri Watt joins Billy Sloane on BBC Scotland’s The Quay Sessions on the banks of the Clyde; sandwiched by Prides and Gun, Watt performs a six song strong acoustic set to a privileged audience.
Watt introduces the first song ‘Maybe’ as one she wrote with a broken heart; her soulful voice with a slight twang echoes throughout the ground floor of BBC HQ icapturing everyone’s undivided attention.
Before playing her debut single ‘Who’s Loving Me Now’, she relays how the video was filmed in a vintage car, with camera mounted on bonnet, with her singing directly into the camera and driving at the same time, a rather dangerous but in the end successful venture.
‘Intuition’ is next, a song which Watt explains was written after a long night of emotional discussion and means a lot her.
The song is about being comfortable about what you believe in and in the lyrics Watt declares intuition as her religion; this is a very honest and beautiful ballad, as with only her guitar as accompaniment Watt’s music fills the hall to the rafters.
We are then treated to her new single ‘Long Way Home’, a true power ballad produced by Richard McNamara of Embrace, and while tonight’s acoustic version lacks some of the drama of the full band version, somehow Watt still manages to portray the emotion in this lovely ballad.
Next up is a cover version of Paolo Nutini’s ‘Candy’, which she performs with the same passion and soothing melodic voice.
‘Paris’ closes her short set, a really catchy upbeat song about the challenges of keeping a distant relationship on the go when on the road.
For those that know her music, this short performance offers another facet to her music; there is no doubt Watt is a gifted songwriter and she can also deliver a spell binding live performance.
This is the second time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her live and I’m already looking forward to her return to Glasgow, at the ABC in October, miss her at your peril!
Words/Photos: Tim Gray
