From the streets outside Sidney and Matilda on the evening of the 20th of March, echoes of strong, raw vocals, hazy guitar riffs and entrancing instrumentals could be heard as Brown Horse took to the stage with a presence that couldn’t be contained within the iconic venue’s four walls. The band have recently been touring for their debut album Reservoir, and on this night it was time for some of Sheffield’s music lovers to be mesmerised by their live performance.
Reservoir was recorded last summer over the span of just four days and despite being released in January it has no doubt already made its way onto many ‘Best Albums of 2024’ lists. An amalgamation of country rock, a hint of 70’s influence and remnants of their folk-quartet origins occasionally seeping through, this unlikely but perfect combination has created a sound for the band that could never be replicated by another. Each of the six musicians is truly a master of their artistry and irreplaceable to the band’s composition, with skilful song writing that balances them perfectly and gives each instrument time to shine.
As stunning as this album is, though, there is a beauty to their live performance that could never be truly captured in a recording studio and begs to be brought to life on a stage. Brown Horse is a band with so many intricacies and layers to their sound that being in the audience of their show feels less like simply watching a group of performers and more like exploring their musical depths and getting lost in the atmosphere together.
As the very first guitar strums of ‘Stealing Horses’ rang out, the crowd fell instantly under their spell. Their setlist was a concoction of dreamy and gritty, and for the next hour the room was overflowing with the magic of Brown Horse’s music.
A unique and unmissable band with a genre-warping sound, Brown Horse are a must see, and definitely won’t be able to fit their crowd in venues like Sidney and Matilda for much longer. With the rest of their album tour to finish off followed by a string of festivals over the summer, these guys have a great year ahead of them, so catch them while you can!
Photo credit: Katie Jones Barlow
