still from manchestertaper’s video recording

With a UK tour pending and new EP awaiting release, it seems that now would be an appropriate time to dig Stefan Melbourne’s first ever headline gig out of our 2013 backlog…

We’d long anticipated this set after catching Manchester-based Stefan supporting Jesca Hoop at the Cornerhouse a couple of years earlier. Accompanied only by his own guitar and the crystalline vocals of Chloe Leavers, Stefan’s songwriting mines a dark seam of hard-luck stories that often seems at odds with his unassuming stage persona.

In a scene awash with bearded wannabe troubadours, his work might invite superficial comparison to the likes of Ryan Adams or Damien Rice but, for my money, a better point of reference would be Paul Westerberg: songs of almost unbearable gravitas dressed in irresistible melodies and delivered with a wry, rueful smile.

But you can make your own mind up about that. We present here the entire set recorded at the Castle both as audio and video. Many thanks to Chris and all at Red Balloon as well as Lucinda for the always immaculate sound.

Stream “Castaway”:

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Download complete show in MP3 format (click here)

Download complete show in FLAC format (click here)

Setlist:

Don’t Let Me Go
How Long Is Always
Bide Your Time
Before The Sunsets
Castaway
A Clearing That I Call Goodbye
Landslide
These Walls
Something Of Mine
The Ballad of JoJo Burn

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the artist by buying their records and attending their gigs. Stefan Melbourne’s official website is here and his Soundcloud is here.