KIRSTEN ADAMSON & THE TANAGERS + JENNIFER NESS | SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2026

Kirsten Adamson 

 After a few thank yous from J it was a real delight to welcome Kirsten Adamson and the Tanagers to the LRB stage for the first time, and almost a new record for the amount of equipment we managed to squeeze on said stage… 

This was another first as tonight Kirsten’s performance was over two sets.

Kirsten opened with My Life, taken from her 2025 album DREAMVIEWER which beautifully segued into Backseat Driver, track 3 from the same album, this set the standard for a quality performance that would enthral us all. A well-rehearsed band demonstrating the musical light and shade that keeps the listeners interested, engaged and wanting more. 

 It’s clear Kirsten and the band are happy to be here after an afternoon visit to Old Knobbly in Mistley that satisfied their sense of culture for the day, before she introduces a new song, Better Than I was. It pays to come to the gigs to hear the new stuff first…

 Next Kirsten introduces this great band Willy Molleson on Drums Richard Anderson on bass, Carl Morah on guitar and Andy Barber on keys before getting the LRB Choir organised for another new song, a song she had written for her then forthcoming marriage, Cross That Wedding Line. If you come to the LRB, you are in the band and nowhere was it truer than tonight as we’re about to find out. 

 

 A change of pace now as Kirsten, gently picking her acoustic guitar, introduces Valleys and Pines a song written whilst on a scenic drive through Scotland. Another great song from the DREAMVIEWER album. 

 Some on/off stage banter next before Kirsten and the band perform Take Me As I Am, a 2023 single. 

As we come to the end of this set, Kirsten and the band unplug and come into the audience with a bunch of acoustic guitars for an impromptu jam session of Live, Love, Cry, with multiple guitar solos by the light of mobile phone torches… You don’t get closer to the band than this… The applause said it all… 

ACT 2

After this UAP (underwear adjustment period) the band take to the stage once more for another new song, Stitches… The barn is rocking now, just how we like it as Kirsten and the band have us all clapping along… Heart is Burning Blue quickly follows, another great song from the DREAMVIEWER album…

 

More on/off stage banter as the band set up for the next song after we hear some tales from the road and Kirsten’s wedding song in which the audience are encouraged to join in once more… Slow Train with some nice harmonica from Andy as the band keep the tempo high… 

 

Next we hear the tale of Kirsten’s draw full of old perfumes, she couldn’t wear them anymore as they transport her to her past, but she also can’t bear to throw them out, but they did inspire this amazing song Perfume. You’ll find it on DREAMVIEWER track 8… 

 

Kirsten dons her Rickenbacker as she promotes the merch she has for sale which is mostly sold out, before testing out a new song, Big Addiction, that should be on a forthcoming album that’s as yet, unrecorded. 

 

The band will be opening for The Proclaimers for 20 dates on their 2026 tour, as such it’s a thrill to have them perform for us at LRB, they have earned their place on the bigger stages, but in my mind, nothing beats an intimate performance like this. 

 

Whenever You’re Around quickly follows before we enjoy a song written with LRB friend Dean Owens, and inspired by Kirsten’s reluctant journey into exploring her late father’s music during Covid, a process she later found healing… My Fathers Song. You can find it on the 2023 album Landing Place. ‘I never knew my father till I sang my father’s song’, is the refrain… 

 

Kirsten now pays tribute to the LRB team and audience before what would be the last song, if we didn’t have an encore’… Laughs… Without Warning, another song from LANDING PLACE. 

 

We couldn’t stop there, we had to have just one more, where Kirsten asks everyone to stand up and clap as Carl starts things off with his jangled guitar, In The Next Life. This is track 2 from DREAMVIEWER and a suitable rocker to close the show as the LRB choir chant and clap, an irreplaceable part of the band… 

 

Without an audience, there is no show so we thank you all and especially Kirsten Adamson and the Tanagers. 

 

 Jennifer Ness 

It was a pleasure to welcome Jennifer at her first LRB appearance after attending a couple of earlier shows. This ensured she knew the venue as a guest and understood the expectations she desired  to meet, and meet them she did…

Originally booked as a solo performer, Jennifer brought along John Porter on six string bass and Mark Sewell on drums, to really fill out the sound.

Jennifer opens with April In London a song from her debut album AFTER THE FALL due for release early next year.

 

The addition of bass and drums indeed does fill the sound stage and was a wise decision from Jennifer as her research on the LRB paid off handsomely.

Mirror Man is next, a song written about people realising they are travelling in opposite directions.

At this stage Jennifer introduces John and Mark before playing her latest single  What If, a song written about the poignancy experienced as her children grow.

Now Jennifer tells another poignant story of her mother praying for a rose as a sign from her late husband that all is well.

Unknowingly, Jennifer brought her some roses that she took as this special sign… It brought her great joy. Jennifer, intrigued, asked God if she could have a sign? “But I’m still waiting” she quips… Laughs… This story introduced the beautiful Send Me A Rose. 

Next, as Jennifer works her way through stories of her family, we enjoy a song about her brother (not in the audience) … laughs… Prodigal Son… Say no more…

Next we have a song written about Jennifer’s husband, who is in the room tonight. A tale of how she sent him this song by WhatsApp that left him visibly shocked… laughs… The Island…

As Jennifer sang the line ‘I notice a change in the weather’, the weather did indeed change as we heard the rain, on queue, hit the roof of the barn… Jennifer can take that as her sign we previously talked of in Send Me A Rose, synchronicity at its best…

Jennifer has taken to the singer songwriter path in mid life, and whilst questioning the sanity of this project she decided to write the very apt song Walk Away. She was tempted to do just that but happily Jennifer is staying the course.

Stan gets a mention as Jennifer admits she has nothing to sell but the new album is out next year, and you can all follow her on all various socials if you enjoy her music.

I’m Alive is next, a song written from the grief of Jennifer losing her mother, bringing a greater appreciation of being alive, being here, playing at the LRB to our lovely audience who show up month after month in turn keeping original music alive. That’s a great song.

All too soon we come to the end of a lovely well balanced set, as Jennifer gives thanks to J and Lyn, the audience and the team for allowing her to perform.

We close on the title track from the forthcoming album AFTER THE FALL. 

The applause said it all, we really enjoyed this. Thank you Jennifer Ness. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU TO THE ARTISTS: KIRSTEN ADAMSON & THE TANAGERS, ANDY BARBOUR, RICHARD ANDERSON, CARL MORAH, WILLY MOLLESON + JENNIFER NESS