Canary Gold Make A Splash After Returning From Across the Pond

Cat Martin

As their first headline gig following their return from a year-long stint in the U.S., the Canary Gold gig at The Lemon Tree had a considerable air of excitement leading up to it. On the night of the 14th, Canary Gold was set to be supported by local indie rock band Angry Man Car Park and acoustic artist Dylan Fowlie. As expected, each of them was entertaining in their own right as well as standing out within the line-up.

Opening the show was the talented Dylan Fowlie, who’s soul-influenced folk songs were a pleasant introduction to the night. The interwoven rhythms and his emotional vocals, which often take a backseat to a complex guitar melody, come together nicely in each song. If you enjoy softly romantic acoustic folk, then Fowlie is definitely someone to check out.

Up-and-coming indie rock favourites Angry Man Car Park were next up, re-energising the crowd with their confidently charming style. Hearing the snappy guitar hooks and lead singer Adam Strachan’s rich voice could very easily conjure echoes of The Smiths in their early days. It’s one thing to be a talented musician and entirely another to be a compelling performer. Angry Man Car Park have an undeniable stage presence and wry magnetism that I hope will carry them further in the future.

Headliners Canary Gold have a quieter appeal, although perhaps one that holds even more sway. The moody vocal harmonies in songs like ‘Edge of Sanity’ have a kick to them, while artful piano sections embellish their sound perfectly. With a sweet melancholy tone, they held the crowd in the palm of their hand. The last song in particular, titled ‘Take Me To The Water’, was entirely entrancing. The emotion behind each word sang by frontman Spencer O’Grady was almost tangible, with the rise and fall of each section being increasingly impactful throughout. Canary Gold’s music has a certain nostalgic quality that recalls the more hard-hitting tracks from Bon Iver’s repertoire. Simply put, they are entirely too good at making the listener feel the intent of their music. 

All things considered, this was an extremely successful return for Canary Gold and they undoubtably received a warm welcome from everyone who attended. It’ll be very intriguing to see what new releases they have in store for us next year….

*Photographs by Jonny Rumsey