Smoke Fairies conclude their UK tour with a mesmerizing guitar-driven performance

Smoke Fairies are an alt-rock, folk-rock, British band, of Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies.

Two-years later than planned, Smoke Fairies concluded their seven-date UK tour at The Joiners, Southampton, delivering their mesmerizing, intense music to a decent sized crowd. Totally absorbing and beautiful, with heavy guitar riffs, drums and angelic vocals. Katherine and Jessica, both on vocals and guitar, were joined on stage by musicians on keys and drums.

Over ten years since their first studio recording, Smoke Fairies released their latest album Darkness Brings the Wonders Home in 2020. The band played seven songs from the album at the show, with six older songs and one new one. “Elevator”, from the new album, classic of the band’s aesthetic, was warmly received by the crowd. Katherine said it was about an awkward conversation in an elevator, and yes ‘elevators’ not the British word ‘lifts’, as it was indeed set in America.

The last two songs, “When You Grow Old” and “River Song”, were played by just Katherine and Jessica, heightening the attention on their incredible guitar playing and vocals, both of which were superbly intertwined between themselves. This was about as polished as a performance can be. With Katherine on slide guitar, and both changing rhythms and tempos, the final song of the set was truly mesmerising. The band have an incredible body of recorded work, but their live performance is definitely not to be missed, especially in a small venue, up close and personal, embraced by their mystery and harmony.

Smoke Fairies are currently working on their 6^th studio album, and we look forward to the next tour.

Support came from Samana, a duo comprising Rebecca Rose and Franklin Mockett, joined on stage by a third musician on keys. Creating a “seraphic atmosphere, bordering on esotericism” with melancholic ballads and captivating slide guitar. The band said they wrote some new songs during covid lockdown, they just happened to be in the Pyrenees at the time, which they said was perfect for their style of song writing. The three musicians, all with bare feet on stage, often appeared lost in their music, and we were privileged onlookers.