It’s a long time since I was genuinely blown away by the entire lineup of a gig, as there’s usually at least one duff act on that causes a stampede to the bar or the nearest place you can still legally smoke. Tonight though, I was impressed to the very ends of my toes with what I saw. The Maze is one of the best venues in Nottingham for allowing musicians to grow organically, without pressing the panic button when the room doesn’t fill up. I assume they make their money on the bigger events at the weekend so it doesn’t hurt to open up and make a few quid during the week, certainly a few more quid that an empty room would make.

I’ve mentioned Notts In A Nutshell before, and the fact that it is scandalously under attended for a gig in a city that claims to have such a supportive music scene. Tonight’s gig was similar in arrangement, HUSH, an acoustic night featuring a lineup mixing reasonably well known names and a few more established acts; tonight’s ‘veterans’ were Adam Clarkson and Anwyn Williams. They did about half an hour each. The room was set out cabaret style with candles on the tables to create a more intimate atmosphere. The sofas had been moved on to the stage, and the artists played on the floor. Whoever had that idea was a genius, as it brought everyone together rather than all sat with their back to the wall leaving a huge chasm of nothingness between the performer and audience.

Arriving at the gig later than planned, James Gooch had started by the time I got through the door and paid to get in (on principal I always pay to get in to things like this to try and help to keep things running), but he grabbed my attention straight away. In the wake of Jake Bugg’s inexplicable success I bemoaned the surge in singer/guitarists, but thankfully they don’t all sound identical. It’s a good job Jake Bugg didn’t show up actually, because James would have wiped the floor with him. Conner Spray was on next, someone I have heard of but can’t remember seeing before for some reason. He’s another hugely talented singer/songwriter who again caught the attention of the small but mostly respectful audience. It turned out that the bunch of lads talking all the way through James Gooch’s set were Conner’s friends, which might explain why they shut the fuck up while he was playing.

It’s an age old problem within the live music world, but Conner and his friends left during the next set. There is a way to address problem and that is to make sure that all of the acts arrive at a pre-determined time (before opening) to sound check. Once the venue opens the promoter can work out who on the bill has brought the largest amount of people and put them on last. It might mean that we have some undeserving headliners, but at least nobody ends up playing to an empty room. On the other hand Conner could have made sure his mates stuck around; as a musician he should understand how demoralising it can be to play a gig to the bar staff. While he is about it he could point out to them that talking during the music is about the rudest fucking thing you can ever do, and that people who talk at gigs deserve to be taken outside and have their vocal chords removed with pliers and thrown into the traffic.

Raph Achache actually did interrupt his set to have a go at someone for talking, which is a stand that more musicians should take. His was a covers set but I didn’t hold that against him once I heard him wrap his voice around ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ with enough aplomb to have made Joe Cocker, should he have happened to have popped in at that point, shit himself. Although this wasn’t a Stars in Their Eyes turn, Raph seemed to manage to become (vocally at least) the person he was covering, Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley among them.

Going back to the point about the audience, James Gooch and Conner Spray brought supporters to cheer them on, while in the corner of the room sat Anwyn Williams. She and her boyfriend saw the whole thing, yet played to a handful of people. The good manners of one of the rising musicians in the city were effectively pissed all over by the show openers. Anwyn brought her boyfriend with her so wasn’t represented. She shouldn’t have to bring an audience with her when she is at a stage in her career where she is about to break out and follow the likes of Jake Bugg, St Raymond and others out of the club scene, people should be coming to see her on merit.

Adam Clarkson arrived by himself to perform his set, and by the time he and Anwyn were ready to play (separate sets) the room had thinned out dramatically. I’ve never worked out why it is that although Captain Dangerous can fill a venue, Adam can’t pull the crowds alone. They are both worth seeing in their own right as separate entities; nobody would pass up the chance to watch Mick Jagger performing just because he hadn’t brought the rest of the Rolling Stones with him. He was the reason I came out in the first place, and Anwyn Williams.

Opening with ‘Drinking in Bars’, Anwyn got a well deserved reaction from what was left of the audience. I don’t think I’ve seen her play The Maze before, but as it is the ‘starter’ venue I imagine she has on any number of occasions. A small but appreciative crowd of diehards were now gathered right around the front of where the singer was positioned. Anwyn’s boyfriend, myself, Gerry Trimble, Adam, Raph, and various members of The Maze staff witnessed her performance before Adam got up and Anwyn sat down. Roger was there too, but he seems to be everywhere. I have actually left a venue before with him in it and arrived at another place to catch a band and he has been there when I arrived. Roo Inns has a talent for this magic trick too, maybe they have a secret tunnel, and if that’s the case then I want one too.

Adam took his depleted audience in good spirits though and played with as much heart and soul as he would have done if he was playing the main stage at Glastonbury on the Sunday night. Hearing Captain Dangerous songs performed by Adam alone is always a delight as you get a feel for the true meaning of the song. Captain Dangerous are (a few ballads aside) an upbeat pop-punk band you can sing and dance along to, (obviously I’m not dissing one of Nottingham’s best bands) and this can take away from the heartbreak and despair that the song is portraying.

Jamie Beau closed the night with a selection of his own songs and a ‘crowd’ pleasing acoustic cover of ‘Tainted Love’ that had everyone singing along. The venue’s setting of tables and candles added to the ambiance of the night rather well, it felt as if we were party to a secret performance after everyone had gone home, like a musical lock-in.

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