Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The Echo Arena is arguably the perfect place to go when you really want to be part of a large crowd, the heaving mass of humanity enjoying the finest that Rock and other genres have to offer, Whether it’s Roger Waters, Status Quo, Muse or even the legendary Neil Young, the arena has a vibe that means Liverpool music fans don’t have to travel to far off venues in Manchester, Birmingham or London.

However just at the back of the Arena, almost hidden in the various corridors and maze like space afforded it, the Auditorium is a much underused gem and yet as the unseasonably cold weather continued to play havoc with people’s central heating dials, the venue was just the right place to be as Red Sky July opened for the celebrated Steve Earle on an August night which was cool in many respects of the word.

Shelly Poole, Charity Hair and Ally McErlaine came on stage and gave the kind of performance that many in the audience would have not expected and yet the sound they create, especially between the vocal harmonies of the two women, was outrageously good. The crowd could not have asked for a different opening act for the renowned Steve Earle but it worked well, it made for a diverse evening which was beautifully staged.

The three members of the group took the audience on a tour of past and future songs and all were received with great warmth, which only showed exactly why Mr. Earle had bought them along to a place that he enjoys performing in. With a new album on offer in 2015, Red Sky July played a set that included the songs Already Gone, Losing You, the stunning Renegade with a haunting violin sound that craved the tear and heart bleeding passion of anyone hearing it, a superb cover of Donna Fargo’s The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A. before finishing the set with Warm My Heart.

As the threesome trooped off the stage to a great Liverpool applause, the thought that Red Sky July had just done exactly that was etched on the faces of the vast majority of the crowd that had had the pleasure of seeing them play. A lovely set, full of warmth, even in the most downbeat of songs, and affection and in which the band should be proud of.

Ian D. Hall