Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is an air of laid back assurance that is mixed freely and without argument the declaration of studious musical intent that comes across with great attitude whenever Mark Pountney comes to the forefront of any stage in the city. The much travelled, both in physical journeys and the cerebral voyages, musician is a man to be enlightened by, to enjoy and take in to your heart, after all, not many musicians can claim the pedigree of country background whilst having walked the walk in the fiery pit of the genre in its own backyard.

It was also with great respect to those that have spent their lives making sure that Liverpool’s musicians and those that are lovingly adopted by the city, that during Mr. Pountney’s set at the Everyman Theatre Bistro space, he paid tribute to the recently passed Stanley Ambrose, a champion of folk music in the city who also walked the walk that could be rough, unsteady but ultimately fulfilling if the pursuit is pure.

In the vein of this tribute, Mark Pountney gave himself up to the weekday audience and bared his soul across the timetable of two albums released in recent times and the shimmering promise of a third to come. The Mark albums have been such enjoyable pieces of art that they would have held their own in the bright like dungeon, the underground with a pattern of light that would make a Cosmos look on in envy. With the songs from the soon to be released Mark Three album added into the set, Mark Pountney’s own travels, his own musical expedition, were enhanced and given solid form; something no doubt that Stanley Ambrose would have been highly delighted at.

With songs such as Diamond In My Mind, the superb and haunting western like feel of God On My Side, the reality and imploring nature of Finish What You Started, the wonderful Cowboy and a Mexican and Forget About That Girl, Mark Pountney made sure that the audience knew that drive is the key factor in any performance, that if you can stand there with dreams and ambition held high and in the same space as humility, then the world truly is your oyster and the imprint you leave on others is noticeable and worthy.

Mark Pountney never disappoints, humble but satisfying, he is a credit to his craft.

Ian D. Hall