Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Victoria Wai enjoys a live show from the hotly tipped artist as she launches her new EP
Image by Victoria Wai
Fresh from her appearance on Jools Holland and hotly tipped by Maximo Park’s Paul Smith at Generator’s Fringe Festival, electro folk musician Frankie Archer launched her new EP, Never So Red. Amy Thatcher and Francesca Knowles opened the night with a stunning set showcasing their multi-instrumentation of accordion, drums, synths and keys. Their set was a great precursor to Frankie’s set up of fiddle, synths and a mix of loop pedals.
Frankie is an artist I have been eager to see due to the murmurs amongst the local music scene. We were treated to two amazing sets from Frankie – one with material she is currently working and experimenting on, and then we were treated to the EP in full. An exciteable crowd hushed as she began performing, and between each song she took the time to explain a bit of background to the songs she played. She knew she had the crowd on her side so the inclusion of some audience participation mixed with her loop pedals to become part of the set.
Frankie is very honest in her performance. There’s a song on her EP, Peacock Followed The Hen, that she doesn’t wholly agree with so added an extra verse to the original to balance it out. Frankie is so aware of her audience and the world that on the subject matter of rape in Alone Maids Do Stray she welcomes the audience to leave the room if they feel the need to. She leaves us on a high with O The Bonny Fisherlad, an upbeat and a very modern twist to the folk sound she has crafted.
