Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The Saturday of Liverpool Sound City is traditionally the time to get loose, to enjoy, hopefully, the sunshine and the music that can be found in every size of venue in the city, from the small to the extremely grand, is there to be taken in and take an enormous amount of pleasure in. Nowhere is this taken as seriously as at Mello Mello, a fine venue which has come close to forced closure due to the threat of increased rent but with the help of petitions and the good nature of the music lovers in the area the sounds continue. In Northern Ireland’s Allie Bradley, to all those that signed the petition and made a concerted effort of keeping the venue open, music lovers got their reward.

The young woman has enjoyed coming to Liverpool Sound City before and her set is eagerly anticipated as she steps up to play her interesting and delightful songs. On the re-christened Bedford Stage at the back of Mello Mello, Allie Bradley thrilled an audience with tracks played with grace and a slight beguiling smile that endeared her to those that made the outstanding effort to make the early afternoon sessions.

With just a guitar and a splendid voice, the young woman from Maghera, made a lot of friends in the audience as she played songs such as the opener Bad, Told You So, the sensational Catherine Wheel, The News and the delicious Just Hold On. Every artist needs something about them to make them stand out and be considered just that little bit special, something, almost anything that tips the balance and makes people want to see them and take their craft seriously. In Allie Bradley’s case having a really beautiful voice and interesting lyrics is more than enough to have in her arsenal. She certainly held the attention well of all those who came to see her and rightly so.

With a bundle of hope, surely Ms. Bradley will be back in the city again, this time with a longer set in which to make those hearts that were captured beat just that little bit faster.

Ian D. Hall.