Live Review - Star From Ivy

Star From Ivy @ The Royal Oak, Burton On Trent.

Friday night and the Hush team are excited about this one. Firstly, it’s not very often we all get to go to a show together and secondly for the first time ever our apprentice and padawan Lily Miller is behind the camera. 

The Royal Oak at one time was the flagship “rock” pub in Burton On Trent, unfortunately now with its peeling magnolia paint and cheap instruments on the wall it looks more like a poor mans Cash Generator. That said, the beer was good, the staff were friendly and its still got more history than almost any other pub in the town. 

Tonight we are here to witness something quite special and something unique in todays live music. Star From Ivy are not just playing songs from their album Circularity but they are also inviting us mere mortals to come and play with them. Circularity is not just an album, Circularity is a whole concept tackling everything from religion to politics, depression to space and time and almost everything in between. For more information about how you can get involved I urge you to check out the website.

Tonight, straight from the get go the band are joined by Matt Redfern who goes under the name  Zoomthelineandeye and is a prolific musician and producer in his own right. Adding to Star From Ivy’s already huge sound, even playing acoustically they produce a lot of noise. The band are outrageously tight, a true testimony of their quality as individual musicians; they are note and pitch perfect throughout the evening, never missing a beat or dropping a note. 

Bass player Steve Gibbs who himself is having great success with his album Adrift, sits tightly at the back holding things together with drummer Mark Maczkowski allowing Chris and Dan to reign at the front to wow the crowd with their phenomenal songwriting, soaring vocals and catchy hooks. 

At one point during the evening a fan from the crowd joins them on stage to sing Imago and does a fantastic job, Chris, ever humble allows the fan to take the lead vocal while he joins in at the end with a few harmonies. 

During the second part of the nights show the band are joined by Andy Crowe, ex Swift Flasby and Exile84 frontman; Andy is currently recording his second solo e.p. Another guitar adds yet another layer to an already full and exciting sound, it’s a real auditory treat, one that at times could feel a little overwhelming but always manages to just calm down before it hits that level. 

These shows that Star From Ivy are putting on are on a different level to other gigs but I’m not sure if it’s everyone’s cup of tea, or if indeed, the music scene is yet ready for these type of shows, but that won’t stop Star From Ivy doing what they do and pushing the boundaries of music. The Circularity project is way ahead of its time and I believe one day it will be looked upon as a pioneering project within the music industry. 

Photos by Lily Miller, aged 13 /  DofE Photography.