Sophie Anderson on stage at Distrct, Liverpool for Hope Fest 2015. Photograph by Lis Garrett. Photograph used with kind permission by Lis Garrett.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The Philharmonic Hall may have had 2,000 souls looking on in praise and devotion in July when Sophie Anderson took to the stage in support to Rosanne Cash, however the voice that haunts and cuts through any atmosphere with its sheer deep resonance is equally at home when performing to a vocal and happy crowd at District as part of the Hope Fest weekend.

It is this vocal quality that has seen Sophie Anderson really become the hit that she has worked so hard to attain in the last three years, the hard work and in many cases self denial that has really captured her resonating voice and given it such a huge wonderful lift that can stop a room in its tracks and make it listen without prejudice and flow with huge amounts of favourable talk afterwards.

Sophie Anderson is a woman of great talent, that much has been in evidence since she first started performing, but as 2015 has progressed, as the year has uncloaked itself and nestled within the confines of a Liverpool music year, so too has that voice, it has unfurled itself and gorged upon the ability and as the set for Hope Fest went on, the ringing sound of satisfaction could be heard with valour abounding in the ears.

Opening her portion of the Sunday afternoon at District with the songs The Sisters and Jacks & Bells, Ms. Anderson treated the audience to two new songs to get their open minds around. Christmas may be months away but there was the contented feeling of presents being offered, gifts in which to be lavished upon and made feel warm by the fireside with. The excellent Santa Maria is unimpeachable, it is a song that could well become a staple of her sets in the future and the beautifully satisfying When I’m With You captured the essence of femininity and love.

With Healer Man also finding its way into the set, Sophie Anderson made sure that the Sunday afternoon was set in stone at District, that it was cemented as the place to be on a weekend where music, passion and care went in equal measure. Sophie Anderson certainly has had a great 2015; the signs are that 2016 should be just as thrilling.

Ian D. Hall