Open Heart Concertry!

Charlie Landsborough

Theatre Severn

11 November 2017

If it were ever possible to sum up a musician in one paragraph one would say…Charlie Landsborough is a Folk and Country singer from the North West of England. His melting tones are like caramel,  weaving themselves around the beautiful music he produces. His audience delight in his presence and a lot of people get a whole lot more than just the music.

You see, one can’t sum him up in one paragraph; Charlie Landsborough is a complex and talented musician. But every question presents another. Such is the remarkable experience of a Landsborough gig.

Supported by a band that any Country singer would dream of being backed by Charlie gives unselfish credit where it was due. The band is more than good. They are in almost telepathic communication as they played so well together and their harmony and backing singing was so, so good. You don't get that good without a lot of work , a very lot of work!

With a back line of Keys, Lead Electric Guitar, Dobro,  National Steel Guitar and other String Instruments that fit so well when they are needed. The noise they make was nothing short of beautiful and as an English man one is glad they are up there representing us in the world of Country Music. Charlie L wouldn’t look out of place on any stage in Nashville. From his stories one ascertains the Charlie is as popular in other lands as he is in ours.

Former teacher Charlie Landsborough told the audience he was seventy five. Were that true I imagine if it could be bottled many would strive to buy what he’s on! But now his classroom is a packed auditorium and the pupils are his attentive audience, lapping up his lovely sounds.

Charlie calls on his teacher’s skills to tell his stories and to reach out with a very tender hand to the crowd that clearly love him. There were some real fans and he was as pleased to see them as they were him.

Working out Charlie’s strategy on longevity one becomes aware that he has a secret he wants to share. He feeds clues through the first half of his act but in act two, bang he nails his Christian faith deeply to the mast and told us, "Jesus was his very best friend." Many of the audience cheered and called out amen!

Sometimes people who say that have had a tough time in life, and they have turned to the warmth of a fully constructed belief system. However, if it his secret; then long may he believe, as it clearly helps him. Not everyone shared his views and might have rather it wasn’t presented as if we all bought it. I might have to say that not everyone does but there was little enough as to be non- consequential. It isn’t a God act, I just believe that Charlie won’t go anywhere without his best friend and he is delighted to get the opportunity to tell us:  An odd one. I have never seen a heart quite so open.

Estimating the mean average age of the full house one thinks circa 65 which suggests some of his fans have been with him since the beginning and long before his song that made him famous, “What Colour Is The Wind?” He sings it beautifully incidentally, with his tones of true faith he took the audience on a journey of themselves and their readiness to embrace others.

Wirralite Charlie likes a laugh and his songs were all punctuated with rib ticklers some funny, some not so but, he is a communicator first and foremost. So he gives the impression that he loves performing and sharing his talents. It was difficult to see anyone who wouldn’t concur with that assessment.

The audience were delighted and the atmosphere generated was warm, safe and loving. Now that’s not a bad audience to be part of. He really is a delight.

This is a Four Star Review

Owen J Lewis