Last Thursday we attended Michaela Anne's first UK headlining show at The Islingon in London. Having already eased her way into a UK audience the previous night supporting Madeline Orange solo at The Islington Assembly Hall - this was her time to shine with a full band behind her.

An intimate room setting designated for live performances saw a keen and fixated audience get ready for Michaela and her band to commence. The band was slightly stripped back from the one we saw at The Americana Fest but this seemed to suit the more intimate atmosphere. The show got started with Living Without You, then her album title track Bright Lights And The Fame. Mid set she brought the audience to silence when she performed what I'm assuming as one of her newest tracks, as we can't find it online yet.

We already knew she delivers fine lyrics, has a sweet punchy voice with a traditional Country twang that only could be produced by an artist across the pond. However, it felt that we might of got a bit more of her voice in these settings, as opposed to the larger band sound at The Americana Fest.

The four piece consisted of, UK session guitarist Sam Wilcock showing great skill and complimenting the set perfectly, along with bassist Anna Robinson and Nashville based drummer Aaron Shafer-Haiss. To say the musicians had just been put together as a group - you would of thought they had performed together for years.

Overall it was a great gig considering it was her debut UK show. Afterwards, there was an enthusiastic group queuing for merchandise too -- quite promising for Michaela Anne, who is starting to establish her name more in the UK Country and Americana scene.

The gig was one of the last of an extensive tour that has seen her play across USA and Europe.

About:

Michaela Anne is a Nashville based Country/American singer who received praise from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Stereogum amongst many others. Bob Harris from BBC Radio 2 has mentioned her within the context of being Country music's "next big thing,”

A collection of honky-tonkers and poignant ballads, the record evokes the country-rock sound of the Eagles and the emotional vocals of Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. - The New York Times

Her full set list for The Islington:

Living Without You

Bright Lights and the Fame

One Love Song

Worrying Mind

By Our Design

Child of the Wind

I’m Not the Fire

Who You Are

Mama Meant

Luisa

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