Willy Mason / Nina Violet / Last Winter Dance Party / Goodnight Ohio

Hull's Fruit Bar stands in a desolate looking street topped off by a small harbour. This area is being rejuvenated and this bar is an example of how fresh this area will be. Looking like a garage workshop space that has been turned into a nightclub room, the venue is back to basics; no pumps at the bar but a good selection of drinks, the odd settee and the one thing I love about a layout, a stage on the side wall, meaning less people are made to stand far back.



First up local band Goodnight Ohio have lent us tonight their singer and guitarist John Copley, who plays an acoustic set (with a little help from guitarist Lucy Maitland). As their name suggests they are influenced heavily by American folk and rock music like Bon Iver and Bright Eyes. Copley's voice and guitar skills are very good, it's a shame the majority of the crowd here are not listening to him and talking over him.

Next up more local goodness from Last Winter Dance Party. Another acoustic set arrangement from a band, this time from guitarist and vocalist Alan Jones and bassist Daniel Seath. The crowd are still talking over the music, so it's hard to absorb it that well but free speech and all that... The duo look to be having fun and return to the Fruit to play with The Milk (this isn't a recipe!) in June.



To my great surprise we now have a set from the amazing Nina Violet. I didn't know she was playing; I would have made the trip over to Hull just for her set. Still the crowd will not shut up, and I feel sorry for the bands trying to be heard. Nina plays a mix of old and new songs like 'Yellow Flash', 'Better Than To Bruise You' and 'Everything Falls Apart'. The intricate guitar playing and complicated vocal melodies are hard enough to fathom on their own, but at the same time... I have always been a fan since the days she toured with Willy Mason back during his first UK tours.

The crowd finally shut up their important conversations when Willy Mason takes the stage. Dressed smartly in a suit he comments that this has been the first sunny day of the tour. Tell us about it! He starts with some old songs to a cheer from the crowd. 'Gotta Keep Moving', 'Where The Humans Eat' and 'Fear No Pain' remind us how this young Americana legend brought his catchy folk and low whiskey-toned voice over here all those years ago. A few new songs are thrown in too; 'If It's the End', 'Need Of Love' and the not so new 'Carry On' fit in seamlessly with the well know tracks.



The early inclusion of 'Oxygen' is different from past shows, as it is usually am encore song, but gladly it is played mid set. I really like the song that made people sit up and take notice of Willy, but there are much better songs of his. 'Pick Up Truck' is a great tune that is not on an album. Nina Violet grabs her viola to accompany Willy on a few tracks before the end, including 'Gotta Be Strong' (providing backing vocals too), 'Riptide' and 'I've Got Gold' (a foot stomping country style song).

The one thing wrong with this venue is the lack of air conditioning; it is very warm, even Willy is saying to us to go outside quickly after the show to get some fresh air. Saying that though the gig is sold out but it is not overly crammed, a nice thing nowadays. We are treated to two more songs for the encore, 'Our Town' and fittingly 'So Long'. This gig really was a great show from some young talent that make it look so easy. If you missed Mason this time luckily he has a lot more shows to go and support shows with Ben Howard this winter, so there's no excuse.

FUTURE GIGS