Joanne Shaw Taylor – Sunderland Fire Station

Connor Selby opened the night with a set that was understated, soulful, and quietly commanding. He has that rare ability to make a room go still, and he did it from the first notes of “I Shouldn’t Care”, his voice warm and velvety over clean, tasteful guitar lines.

He followed with “Love Letter to the Blues”, a song that shows exactly why he’s become one of the UK’s most talked‑about young bluesmen — classic influences, but delivered with sincerity rather than imitation. “Falling in Love Again” was another standout, full of gentle melancholy and beautifully controlled vocals.

Selby didn’t need volume or flash; he won the room with honesty and musicianship. A perfect pairing for Joanne, and a support slot that felt like a bonus headline set in its own right.

Joanne Shaw Taylor rolled into Sunderland Fire Station like a woman on a mission, and by the end of the night she’d turned the place into a blues sanctuary. From the moment she opened with “In the Mood”, that trademark mix of grit, soul, and effortless guitar swagger was front and centre. Her tone filled the room — warm, thick, and unmistakably hers — and the crowd settled in knowing they were in safe hands.

The emotional punch came early with “Watch ’Em Burn”, where she stretched out into one of those long, expressive solos that remind you why she’s held in such high regard on both sides of the Atlantic. She followed it with “Bad Love”, delivered with a smoky vocal that felt tailor‑made for the Fire Station’s intimate acoustics.

A real highlight was “Diamonds in the Dirt”, which had the audience swaying along, and later “Fade Away”, where she dialled everything back to its bare bones — just voice, guitar, and a room hanging on every note. By the time she closed with “Going Home”, she’d taken Sunderland on a journey through blues, soul, heartbreak, and triumph, all with that easy confidence she carries onstage.