Vox Sheffield

The sun was streaming through the windows at April’s Vox, casting a beautiful light on local artist Alice Skelton’s clever takes on iconic Sheffield images – and with a programme of summery music, the Riverside was a very happy place to be. First up was a Vox newcomer, JON DAVIES. A regular busker in Sheffield and Barnsley, Jon played Dylan-esque blues and folk (alongside plenty of the real Dylan too!). Despite a few technical issues he quickly won over the crowd with his warmth and charm.

WPK WILLIAMS made a welcome return next. Also fairly new to the Sheffield scene, Will’s status is rapidly ascending. His songs have a tender beauty, highly reminiscent of Kings Of Convenience – a very gentle guitar style augmenting warm yet still slightly ethereal vocals. Tonight he extended his range, with songs such as Steel City Blues and Bungalow Bill having a raw urgency to them. Highly recommended – catch him at the (always excellent) Folkin’ Sheffield at the Green Room at the end of May.

We took a break from music to hear our own OLLIE FRANCIS present a selection of poets from Sheffield’s vibrant spoken word scene. He kicked us off with the unusual let deeply moving story of Frederick The Unhappy Wax Crayon (part of a brand new series being presented monthly at Vox), and then it was over to RUBY ROBINSON. Her tongue-in-cheek poems were witty and clever, yet betrayed a strong sense of nostalgia and pathos. DAVID GREEN, a teacher at a school for excluded boys read very funny poems drawing from both his work experience and a life spent on a bicycle. An unashamed rhymer, David’s poems were richly detailed yet highly accessible.

Headliners THE CRANKS need little introduction – they are surely one of the best new bands on Sheffield’s folk and roots circuit. With a sound augmented by a new double bass player, they were as good as I’ve seen them. A lively and banter filled set was tempered by some beautiful new ballads, including several by frontman Sam Browse adding balance and depth to their set – though they still had plenty of people dancing by the end of live favourite Matty Groves.

Listen to WPK Willams here: http://www.myspace.com/abstraccas and The Cranks here: http://www.myspace.com/thecranksinsheffield