Dan Bettridge - Norwegian Church, Cardiff - March 5 2014 (Live Review)
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Written by Dave Ball
Heading out on your first tour is a daunting enough task as it is, but the spectacular venues picked for Dan Bettridge's maiden foray into a full set of live dates makes it all the more challenging.
Cardiff Bay’s stunning Norwegian Church sold out in advance for the arrival of the 20-year-old, with expectation high following some deserved praise for his sophomore EP, ‘Darker Days’.
Opening up was Ollie James, who despite being understandably nervous at playing his first gig, deserves credit for sticking to his own material, which earned scattered applause from around the packed room.
There were no such nerves for the second act. Alex Stacey may only be 15, but he's a battle-hardened veteran of the Caerphilly pub scene and his experience shone through. Time We Lost and Drink and Drive are stand outs in a set that would have appealed to the Ed Sheeran fans out there.
When Bettridge takes the stage, it's clear his recent experiences playing Green Man and Swn have done him good. Gone is the awkward shyness that characterised his early gigs, replaced instead with a quiet confidence that retains his charm but adds a more professional polish.
A reverent silence greets his acoustic guitar and vocal on Untitled, while each track from his two EPs to date get an airing, alongside a cover of the Steeldrivers' If It Hadn't Been For Love. Throughout, there's the sense that he is now ready for a larger stage.
As the set comes to an end he adds extra accompaniment, with slide guitar on Home and, to close the show, a spine tingling version of Darker Days complete with the full cello and piano arrangement from the EP. It's a beautiful way to finish a short but thoroughly impressive performance from a man who is getting closer and closer to the big time.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
