photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 23rd 2011.

As one of the members of the multi-selling Irish band The Corrs, Sharon Corr has thrilled her fans with her fantastic ability of playing the violin and writing some of the bands memorable songs and hits and with Sharon having released her debut solo album, Dream of You last autumn, her loyal audiences in Britain finally got the chance to catch this incredible musician in a live environment perform some of the tracks and some old favourites.

Looking shy but full of Celtic humour she took to the stage, it wasn’t long before Sharon began to enjoy herself and the kind and very vocal comments and shouts of encouragement coming from a large crowd that seemed delighted to welcome her to the Liverpool Academy and get her tour of to the type of start musicians hope for.

The instrumental Cooleys Reel and Ears Painted On opened the evening and gave the audience a taste of what was to come before Sharon did the first of her celebrated covers with wonderful version of the Korgis’ hit Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime and then an astounding and truly sensational version of the Bronski Beat classic Small Town Boy. Originally the track was a defining look at 80’s intolerance, in Sharon’s hands it became a haunting and almost ethereal address on the perils of returning to prejudiced times.

There was so much to admire and love from Sharon’s performance, skittish, playful and yet absolutely determined to show why she is so highly regarded as one of the finest violinists of her generation. Sharon included the Jeff Beck collaboration of Mna Na h’Eirann, the beautiful Its Not A Dream, a cover of the Fleetwood Mac song Dreams and one of The Corrs biggest hits, the marvellous So Young.

Sharon finished an excellent night of music with another Fleetwood Mac cover, the phenomenal Go Your Own Way, which had the audience singing along with great appreciation for Sharon’s impressive reading of the classic track.

Laid back, intimate and genuinely delightful, Sharon Corr showed exactly why her fans love her. It can only be hoped that the short tour is successful as it should be, therefore giving Sharon the impetus to come back next year and play more dates, and going by the audiences reaction, she would certainly be welcome.

4 stars

Ian D. Hall