REVIEW: Courtney Marie Andrews at the Talking Heads, Southampton

Kicking off with Long Road Back To You Andrews encountered sound problems and had the confidence to stop the track midway through, have the sound adjusted, and continue as if nothing had happened.

Highlights of the show ranged from the hauntingly beautiful Near You to the more uptempo Kindness Of Strangers and the politically charged Border. Two new high-quality songs made the set, Guilty and Set It Free.

Andrews is a supremely confident performer, having honed her craft from continually performing over the past twelve years after leaving home at sixteen to follow her musical dream.

Her band had three members from her last trip, guitar, keys and drums, with a new bassist.

In an interview last year Andrews cited Aretha Franklin as one of her main influences, so it was fitting that she performed a wonderful soul-drenched Chain Of Fools as a tribute to the recently departed Queen Of Soul. If you want see the connection between soul and country, look no further.

Since appearing on Jools Holland's Later show in April 2017, Andrews has developed a considerable following in the UK. She is fully appreciative of this, regularly playing the UK. She's back in December for a fourth 2018 trip and you get the chance to catch her live take it.

You won't be disappointed.

BY CHAZ BROOKS