Lucy is centred at home with Courtney
Two female singer-songwriters from opposite sides of the Atlantic proved they had more than just music in common with a stunning gig at Norwich Arts Centre.
There may only be seven years between them but Courtney Marie Andrews and Lucy Grubb are at different stages of the musical career spectrum at present.
Courtney, 34, from Phoenix, Arizona, is on the road in the UK ahead of the launch of her 10th album Valentine in January while Lucy, 27, from Norwich, is working hard penning material for her debut long player next year while waiting for news of the Arts Council funding she needs to make the production of that album even possible.
But while that may be the current state of play for the pair of talented songsmiths, a less informed observer may have found it harder to pick who was who based on Monday’s performance and professionalism.
It may have been that Lucy was on her own ground so to speak, playing at her favourite venue at the Arts Centre, but she certainly seemed the most at home as showcased by her relaxed inter song banter as she segued from one beautifully crafted song to another in a perfectly paced half hour set. Subject matters ranged from self-analysis and unrequited love to late TV artist guru Bob Ross but all were delivered in a uniquely natural voice that leaves you crying out for more. With a pacing and catchiness reminiscent of early Suzanne Vega, herself on tour in the UK at the moment, each song is a delight although personal favourites on the night included opener ‘Waste My Time’, the title track of her 2022 lockdown EP, a wistfully upbeat ‘While It Lasted’ and a new number about friends moving to the other side of the world in ‘Find What You’re Looking For’. The set climaxed with ‘In Common’, a personal tribute to the memory of Johnny Cash, and a toe-tapping pastiche of country music’s obsession with lost love, ‘You Don’t Do Anything For Me’.
But while Lucy’s set flew seamlessly by, Courtney Marie’s headline set suffered from a stop start feel not necessarily of her own making. There is no denying the quality of Ms Andrew’s singing, the intricacies of her songs or the at times ethereal nature of her voice, but the endless guitar tuning between almost every song proved a distraction as did some over the top whooping from a few members of the crowd. Maybe using more than one guitar may help reduce the level of distraction.
Such grumbles apart, Courtney herself was superb, either solo or in tandem, with her best numbers being those performed alongside Jerry Bernhardt who was able to produce a stunning array of sounds from his electric semi-acoustic guitar and an impressive set of pedals. Standout tracks included the powerful ‘Irene’, ‘Table For One’, a brilliant ‘It Must Be Someone Else’s Fault’ and recent single ‘Cons and Clowns’. As a lesson in delivery and controlled performance that combined passion with poignancy, it was a good set and a great gig all round.
Courtney Marie Andrews returns to the UK as part of a European tour from February 19, 2026. Lucy Grubb is playing a handful of dates in Northumbria with Filkin’s Drift at the end of November. See lucygrubb.com for more news and information.
Mark Taylor
Artists’ websites: https://www.courtneymarieandrews.com/ https://www.lucygrubb.com/
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