Not so long ago I had the pleasure to pose questions to Sydney based singer songwriter Jack Carty about his latest release Home State and life on the road and so it was with real excitement that I attended his gig in Ashford, Kent at this quite stunning venue.
St Mary the Virgin Church couldn’t be more central to the town and Revelation St Mary’s is Ashford music and arts venue, a centre of excellence for the arts. It provided an incredible backdrop to a beautiful acoustic set from Jack Carty with excellent acoustics and an audience that quietly appreciated each offering before bursting into applause at each song’s end.
Jack Carty sang a mix of songs from his latest album along with some tracks from previous releases. He came to the stage wrapped in a giant scarf and coat but despite felling the cold, his performance was one filled with warmth and an intimacy that quickly drew the audience into his music and the stories behind them. During his singing you could have heard a pin drop such was the involvement of the entire crowd.Â
Jack released a second UK single ‘A Way With Me’ on April 21st in celebration of his UK shows and included it in last nights set but with Jack Carty it’s not just music you are treated to but amusing, heartwarming anecdotes about how and why he wrote his songs. Indeed it was my wedding anniversary last week and Jack’s romantic rendition of ‘Wedding Song’ will live long in the memory.
Jack will be completing his UK dates next week so if you get the chance to see him, grab it with both hands. Chatting with Jack after his performance, he said he should be coming back to here in October so hopefully there will be more opportunities for UK audiences to become acquainted with this outstanding talent. I for one will be making sure I keep tabs on him.Â
