One of my biggest discoveries of 2023 was Brave Rival (a belated one, I know, as this website first marked them as a band to watch in 2019). I saw them three times during the year but the one that has fondest memories for me was the band doing a matinee show at Thames Side Brewery in Staines, the combination of music, ale and a relaxing Sunday afternoon making it one of the best days of the year.

The band must have felt the same way, as less than four months later, their busy gig schedule saw a return to the Surrey town a short train ride away from my West London base, for a show that was again sold out (and suggesting that weekend matinees may be way forward for middle aged blues and classic rock fans?)

There are many facets which make Brave Rival unique, one being how comfortable they are switching between a variety of styles. On this occasion they started with some out and out rockers in my own favourite ‘Run And Hide’ with its big hooks and a solo from Ed Clarke living up to his ‘The Shred’ moniker; the rhythmic ‘Bad Choices’ which had people clapping along and ‘Guilty Love’, a perfect example of how the twin vocals of Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine, powerful yet soulful, work in tandem to create a huge sound.

But then there was a change in style and tempo as the Etta James cover ‘Damn Your Eyes’ began with a slow passage with Ed prominent alongside bassist Billy Dedman, the song concluding with a long bluesy solo showing the other side of the guitarist’s repertoire, while ‘Long Time Coming’ featured Lindsey as the main vocalist.

The band had just emerged from sessions recording their second studio album which meant an opportunity to further evolve the set from their autumn visit here. ‘On The Next Round’ was up tempo and made a favourable first impression, followed by the more familiar and lively, funky grooves of ‘Heart Attack’.

Chloe dedicated ‘Magnetic’ to her husband who was at a rare show. For me it was actually one of the more ordinary numbers in the set, in contrast to ‘Insane’, the singer pouring heart and soul into the very personal lyrics in that powerhouse voice which has been nominated for the 2024 UK blues awards, as indeed have the band in other categories.

Following a break, and after checking that the crowd could be trusted to listen rather than natter, the second half began with an acoustic mini set, Donna Peters also switching from drums to guitar. In its new format ‘Secrets’ was an interesting listen while ‘For The Ones’ was a beautiful song, but even that was eclipsed by their cover of ‘The Sound Of Silence’ with some truly jaw dropping close harmonies between the two singers.

Briefly they became three when Gemma Dorsett, another blues singer in her own right and a Staines resident, was summoned from the crowd and her lower, huskier voice added a complementary third line to the vocal attack on a cover of ’Tennessee Whiskey’.

The pace gradually picked up again during ‘All I Can Think About Is You’, and though dedicating ‘Fairy Tale’ to the headbangers present may have been over stating it, both that and ‘Thin Ice’ – the girls conducting the now familiar ‘you’re no good for me, you’re temporary’ audience participation section- rocked convincingly.

With material that strong there is no need in my view to resort to tried and trusted covers, yet the band obviously love to slip in a few and they tackled ‘Whole Lotta Love’ with ease with some particularly powerful drumming from Donna. More interesting for me were two originals almost progressive in their approach in ‘Stars Upon My Scars’ with another extended solo from Ed, and Billy, another Staines boy, prominent, on ‘Sink Or Swim’.

The official 7 o’clock finish had already been exceeded, yet there was still time for two of my favourite numbers, with the cheeky ’What’s Your Name Again?’ featuring some fabulously dirty slide guitar from Ed, then the encore ‘Come Down’ was a bluesy epic, Chloe going into the crowd on her knees and again inhabiting the song with that large lunged voice.

They may be up for those blues awards but Brave Rival defy any easy pigeonholing, taking vintage influences but creating a unique and very diverse sound of their own. Their other quality, which came over particularly well in a relaxed setting such as this, is the personal warmth that comes over both in the obvious affection they have for each other, and the way they bring their loyal ‘Bravian’ fans into their world. I hope they manage to retain those qualities as they hit the bigger times, which on talent alone they must surely do.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)

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