There is a lot of discourse around ticket prices these days and how they are rising to ridiculous, unprecedented levels. While this is certainly true for academy and arena shows, I would say that the smaller venue shows are as cost-effective as they’ve ever been – you just need to be willing to look for them. Enter electro-folk duo Jadu Heart, who stopped by JT Soar this week for the final stop on their Bleak Midwinter Tour, where all tickets cost just £5. Here’s what went down…
This is my first visit to the unassuming recording studio where Notts legends’ Sleaford Mods go to work, and my first thought upon arriving to JT Soar is… where is the entrance? It seems tonight’s host has read my mind, as a white graffitied door next to a giant motif of Sleaford Mods’ UK Grim album cover opens and we are invited into the venue. Except “venue” is probably a grandiose term for the JT Soar space – the beauty of it is that it doesn’t feel like a venue at all, more like you’ve gone over to a mate’s house for a few beers and a singalong in their living room. Indeed, with fairy lights and tinsel covering the “stage” (patch of floor where the instruments are) and a “BYOB” policy in effect with only around thirty people in attendance, tonight’s show really has the feel of a festive get-together.
There’s no support so it’s straight on with Jadu Heart who are performing as a quartet tonight, with a violin player and multi-instrumentalist joining Diva-Sachy Jeffrey and Alex Headford for the acoustic performance. “Bare with us one moment, our drummer is just sellotaping a tambourine to his foot,” explains Alex, and he’s not lying either. Looking over, the percussionist/mandolin player for the evening indeed straps a tambourine to his shoe with some grey, heavy-duty duct tape. With tambourine secure, the band start the set off with a pair of Derealised singles, Blame and Cocoon. Propelled by the gentle sounds of the mandolin, the stripped-back, string-tinged versions presented are truly goosebump-inducing, instantly elevating the crowd.
It sets the mystical tone for the evening, as tracks like Dead, Again and Pink & Blue are barely recognisable from their studio versions in this gorgeously understated format. “We have a loose setlist but if you have any suggestions let us know,” asks Alex. However, when a lone audience member fires back with “Galaxy Surfing?”, it turns out that’s not one they’ve rehearsed for the tour. Back to the setlist then and back to Derealised for a spellbinding version of Webs, with the soothing violin tones again making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“We have a bottle of wine in our dressing room, can someone fetch it?” requests Alex. “Yeah this isn’t actually tea, we’re all just drinking wine out of mugs” Diva reveals, as the bottle of red Casillero del Diablo arrives so the band can all have a cheeky top up. The crowd is then asked to join in with the singing for the first time, helping the two vocalists out on the chorus to Walk The Line. The audience then remain musically entranced, as the band majestically glide through more stirring cuts from second album Hyper Romance, including Caroline, Woman and Day by Day. In-between those renditions, I’m A Kid is the lone inclusion from debut album Melt Away, but it makes for one of the most memorable moments of the whole set thanks to Diva and Alex’s soft vocals and the beautiful accompanying strings.
“We actually almost had to cancel tonight, Diva’s been unwell,” says Alex, as an audience member cries back, “We’re glad you didn’t!” Diva then replies, “I’m powering through - the wine is helping,” as the band all help themselves to another top up of their mugs. “Okay, one more and then we’ll sing some Christmas songs – cause that’s why you’re all here really, isn’t it?” Alex jokingly quizzes, as the band then deliver a magnificent version of third album closer, Derealisation.
Diva then gets out her folder of lyric sheets and passes them to Alex who starts handing them out to the audience. “There’s no excuse not to join in – it always feels like the worst thing just before we start, but I promise you it's going to be great,” he reassures the crowd, who seem trepidatious about joining in with the impromptu carolling. However, as soon as the band launch into their cover of Merry Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon, everyone in the room suddenly finds their confidence and their voice, wholeheartedly belting out the words. It's a radiant moment, only surpassed by a heartfelt, set-closing singalong to timeless classic Fairytale of New York, with the climatic waltzing strings the perfect launchpad into the Christmas period.
This was my final show of 2023 and it was an utterly captivating, completely unique show unlike any I’ve attended over the last twelve months. With a cosy performance space, a delicate band set-up, a super intimate crowd and a sprinkle of festive spirt, it was just magical and the perfect way to see out the year. So, big hats off to Jadu Heart for putting this tour together and hopefully proving that you can still find ways to be uplifted by live music, without necessarily having to break the bank.
Keep an eye out for our interview with JT Soar in the January issue of LeftLion
Jadu Heart performed at JT Soar on 18 December 2023
Photos by lukebrennan.co.uk (@lukebrennan.co.uk)
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