NEWS: Mary Lattimore @ Gosforth Civic Theatre

Image by Rachel Pony Cassells

Having lent her talents to the likes of Sharon Van Etten, Thurston Moore and Kurt Vile among many others, Mary Lattimore’s name has fluttered gracefully on the fringes of the indie and folk worlds for some time. Far more than a harpist-for-hire, however, this L.A.-based virtuoso is an extraordinary artist in her own right – a fact that’s come into sharp focus in recent years thanks to an increasingly superlative string of solo works.

For many, 2020’s Silver Ladders was her most spellbinding turn to date. A serene, meditative suite underpinned by deft touches of synth and guitar, Lattimore’s instrumentals are an exquisite, transportive musical balm; a blessed accompaniment whose featherweight melodies offer wondrous contrast and solace from the mental toll of everyday existence.

Fortunately in such trying times, she’s also fiercely prolific. May alone has brought the unveiling of West Kensington – the latest in a string of excellent collaborative records, this time alongside guitarist Paul Sukeena – as well as her most anticipated run of UK shows to date, which includes a stop at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Wednesday 1^st June. Depending on your outlook, it promises to be either a magical start to an extended bank holiday weekend, or a moment of tranquillity before the inescapable barrage of jubilee bootlicking kicks into overdrive. Either way, you’ll want to experience it!

Absorbing vibrations await beforehand too courtesy of tour support Ben Bertrand. Weaving hypnotic sounds via bass clarinet and a plethora of machines, the Belgian composer’s work is illuminating and awash with sonic possibilities, inviting listeners to experience and interpret each ambiguous piece from own unique perspective. As if that wasn’t enough, local addition Nathalie Stern opens the evening with her own electrifying medley of sonorous drone-folk, glacial loops and multilingual hymns. You’d be a fool to miss them.